Extreme king tides threatening Lau artificial islands

Increasing king tides in the Lau Lagoon have threatened the well-being and sustainable livelihoods of the people living on the artificial islands. Currently, the most vulnerable ones are children and young people.

Lau Lagoon is the largest lagoon in the whole of Northeast Malaita province, with its wide reefs, mangroves, and many man-made islands. You will be amazed at how these islands withstand any weather conditions and have houses designed uniquely.

Currently, the artificial islands that house approximately 70 percent of young people have changed rapidly due to the impact of climate change. People have been experiencing intensifying king tides, storms, and unpredictable seasons in a worrying stage.

Lafumasi Artificial Island covered with saltwater as a result of King Tide

During king tides, it flooded into the islands' interior, destroying kitchens built on the ground and carrying waste on the islands. Few people are now trying to relocate to the mainland, but most wish to remain on their islands, while others go to Honiara.

Besides, dwellers on artificial islands are also without clean water and proper sanitation. Every day, people travel long distances on dug-out canoes to fetch water on the mainland for cooking and drinking. This is an overdue issue that has been overlooked for centuries.

The ongoing situations have affected their way of living in harmony with nature and marine biodiversity. 

It is predicted that by 2030, many people, especially children and young people, will lose their homes. They fear the impact of climate change will destroy their homes built 500 years ago, destroying their cultural heritage.

With the current issues the people of Lau are facing, they are seeking responsible authorities to assess biodiversity, food security, water resources, and livelihoods mainly to identify a need to understand the better threats of climate change to people living on the artificial islands through an appropriate methodology.

Young people did not have a fair knowledge about climate change. It is essential to inform them about adaptation planning at the community level, practices, and participatory. 

In 2021, the Solomon Islands Government conducted technical studies and community consultation to develop relocation guidelines as part of its response to the impact of climate change on low-lying atolls and artificial islands.

The work is undertaken under the guidance of a multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee with representation from both the Government and Non-Government stakeholders co-chaired by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology.

Climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions blanketing the earth, trapping the sun’s heat. As a result, global warming is now occurring faster than at any point in recorded history.

At the recent COP26, the United Nations called for countries to keep up with the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius. This requires greater ambition on mitigation and immediate concrete action to reduce global emissions by 45 percent by 2030.

UN said G20 countries have a particular responsibility as they represent around 80 percent of emissions.

It urges developed countries and emerging economies to build coalitions to create the financial and technological conditions to accelerate the economy's decarbonization and coal phase-out. These coalitions are meant to support the large emitters that face more difficulties in the transition from grey to green.

Lau Lagoon is located on the northeast coast of Malaita Island. The lagoon is over 35 kilometers long and contains about 60 artificial islands built on the reef.

Lau Lagoon people call themselves Wane I Asi ‘salt-water people’ as separate from Wane I, tolo ‘bush people.’