SI Launches Flagship Climate Adaptation Project to Strengthen National Resilience

Solomon Islands has taken a bold step to fight climate change by launching the Strengthening Inclusive Adaptation Capacity in Solomon Islands (SIAC-SI) Project, its first National Adaptation Plan.

“For too long, our communities have faced the harsh impacts of climate change with limited resources and fragmented support. This initiative brings everyone together — government, development partners, and communities — to deliver one clear vision: a more resilient Solomon Islands,” said Hon. Polycarp Paea, Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology.

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, H.E. Rod Hilton, said, Australia welcomes the opportunity to partner with the Government of Solomon Islands and GGGI on this important flagship initiative.

“We are supporting inclusive, science-based adaptation planning that ensures all Solomon Islanders — especially the most vulnerable — are better protected from the impacts of climate change. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to build a resilient, secure, and sustainable Solomon Islands.”

GGGI Regional Director, Sakiusa Tuisolia, said SIAC-SI Project is more than a plan — it is a pathway to safeguard the Solomon Islands for future generations

“The SIAC-SI Project is more than a plan — it is a pathway to safeguard the Solomon Islands for future generations. Guided by local leadership and powered by strong partnerships, this effort combines data-driven planning with the voices of communities to ensure that adaptation solutions are both effective and inclusive,” he said.

GGGI Solomon Islands Country Representative, Mohammad Ali Shaikh, added, “We are honoured to stand alongside MECDM and DFAT in this journey toward resilience. The National Adaptation Plan will serve as a national compass — aligning data, community priorities, and policy actions to ensure that every step we take strengthens the country’s adaptive capacity.”

The SIAC-SI Project, implemented in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and supported by the Australian Government through DFAT, aims to protect communities, ecosystems, and livelihoods across the nation’s 994 islands while positioning the Solomon Islands to access international climate finance and support sustainable economic development.

Solomon Islands faces some of the world’s highest climate risks, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and intensifying storms, threatening roughly 800,000 residents across 4,000 kilometers of coastline.

The project focuses on three main objectives includes supporting inclusive, climate-resilient economic development, strengthening adaptation planning and governance, and mobilizing climate finance to protect vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

The National Adaptation Plan integrates findings from Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (CRVAs) and the Solomon Islands Integrated Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (SIIVA), ensuring strategies are evidence-based and locally grounded.

The launch concluded with the handover of GIS equipment, symbolizing a new era of data-driven climate action and partnership.

The SIAC-SI Project aligns with the National Climate Change Policy (2023–2032), the country’s Paris Agreement commitments, and Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Climate Action.

With this flagship initiative, the Solomon Islands positions itself as a regional leader in climate resilience, protecting both its people and natural environment for generations to come.

Media Release | AHC