Mr. Joseph Ma’ahanua
Supervising Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade
PO Box G10, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Trevor Ramoni
Assistant Secretary, Regional Economic Cooperation Branch, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Melchior Mataki
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology
PO Box 21, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Telephone: (677) 27751
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Thaddeus Siota
Director Climate Change
Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology (MECDM)
P.O. Box 21, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Telephone: (677) 26004
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Chanel Iroi
Undersecretary – Technical
Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology,
P.O. Box 21, Honiara, Solomon Islands
P:(677) 20331
Email: [email protected]
Ms. Florence Bale
Executive Personal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology
Email: [email protected]
Mr. David Hiba Hiriasia
Director, Solomon Islands Meteorological Services
Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology
P O Box 21
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Email: [email protected]
Date updated: April 2024
Country Overview
Capital: Honiara
Land: 28,000 sq km
EEZ: 1.6 million sq km
Population: 450,000 (2003 est.)
Language: English, Pijin, local languages
Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar
Economy: Agriculture, fisheries and forestry
Solomon Islands comprises a scattered archipelago of 994 islands combining mountainous islands as well as low lying coral atolls within a tuna-rich and potentially mineral-rich maritime Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) of 1.34 million square kilometres. The land area of 28,000 square kilometres with 4,023 kilometres of coastline is the second largest in the Pacific after Papua New Guinea. The highest point in the country, Mt Makarakomburu is 2,447m above sea level and is the highest peak in the insular Pacific. There are six main islands, Choiseul, New Georgia, Santa Isabel, Malaita, Guadalcanal and Makira, which are characterized by a rugged and mountainous landscape of volcanic origin. Between and beyond the bigger islands are hundreds of smaller volcanic islands and low lying coral atolls. All of the mountainous islands of volcanic origin are forested with many coastal areas surrounded by fringing reefs and lagoons.
The islands are grouped into three different major “geological provinces‟; the Pacific Geological Province (including Malaita, Ulawa and North Eastern part of Santa Isabel island); Central Geological Province (Makira, Guadalcanal and the Florida Islands, SouthWestern part of Isabel and Choiseul) and; the Volcanic Geological Province (New Georgia, Russell Islands, Shortland Islands and North Western tip of Guadalcanal and Savo). Guadalcanal is the largest island and the only one with a significant area of grassland and rich alluvium soils. Most of the islands have highly weathered soils of low fertility with pockets of fertile areas mainly on volcanic islands and river valleys.
The country is situated within the earthquake belt or “Ring of Fire‟ which makes it extremely vulnerable to the effects and impacts of earthquakes. A major earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred in the Western Province in 2007 causing a major tsunami that affected the Western and Choiseul provinces and causing 52 deaths and scores missing. About 40,000 people were affected. Many islands have subsided whilst a few have been uplifted a few metres. Extensive damage was experienced throughout the two provinces costing hundreds of millions of dollars. The country and many communities and individuals are still recovering from this double disaster event.
Solomon Islands has 28,400 square kilometers of land, with a population of 598,860 (September 2015 estimate). Solomon Islands has a population density of 21 people per square kilometre. The capital and largest city is Honiara, with a population estimated at 67,000. There are no other cities with a population of more than 10,000 in the country.
Most people in Solomon Islands are ethnically Melanesian (94.5%). Other large ethnic groups include Polynesian (3%) and Micronesian (1.2%), with a few thousand ethnic Chinese in the country. There are 70 living languages in Solomon Islands with Melanesian languages spoken mostly on the main islands. While English is the official language, just 1 -2% of the population speaks English.
Around 80% of the national population live on low lying coastal areas. The capital city of Honiara is the only major area of economic activity and attracts increasing numbers of youth and adults per year from other islands seeking employment and income. Urban migration is estimated at 4% and with the current rate of growth the national population is expected to double by 2020.
The Solomon Island’s Human Development Index (HDI) was 0.510 in 2011, and is one of the lowest in the Pacific, and it ranked 142 out of 187 countries (UNDP, 2011). On the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) a range of social indicators show that the country is likely to meet Goal 2 (Achieve universal primary education) and Goal 5 (Improve maternal health). Females still have less access than males to secondary and tertiary education while women have poor access to health and family planning services in the rural areas. According to the ADB (2010) much of the improvement in the HDI was the result of significant overseas financial and technical assistance, with aid levels increasing from 22% of GDP in 1990 to 66% of GDP in 2005. An analysis of household inco me and expenditure data collected in 2005/06 shows that situations of hardship and poverty is rising with 11% of the population experiencing difficulties in acquiring basic needs.
In its 2014 annual report, the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) reported that the Solomon Islands economy showed a lot of resilience in 2014 to recover from the negative fallouts from the April 2014 floods and the closure of Gold Ridge mine in the second quarter. Therefore growth for 2014 was revised upward from 0.9% to 2.0% but was down against pre-flood projection of 3.7% as a result of improvements in key non mineral sectors combined with the swift expenditure adjustments both from the national government and its development partners. Favourable external developments in particular rising prices for major export commodities and falling energy prices later in the second half of the year also supported the economic recovery.
The Government suffered a major setback in 2014 following the devastation caused by the April floods and the closure of the Gold Ridge mine. Fortunately, development partners were quick to respond and the government with available fiscal space have cushioned the revenue shortfall and accommodated high unplanned expenditure pressures. These quickly restored affected infrastructures and minimised economic downtime. The Government recorded a fiscal surplus of $129 million during the year from revenue collections of $3.1 billion and $3.0 billion in expenditures. The surplus was attributed to unexpected increases in revenue particularly from fishing licenses, increased budget support, and expenditure savings most notably in the capital budget.
Despite the cessation of gold production in the Solomon Islands, total exports rose by 5.3% in the first half of 2015 over the same period in 2014, largely reflecting higher exports of bauxite and agricultural commodities. After parliamentary elections in November 2014, passage of the 2015 budget was delayed to April to give the new coalition government time to incorporate its spending priorities. The resulting 2015 budget provides for total expenditures that is 11.8% higher than the revised 2014 budget, mostly because of higher expenditure on flood recovery. Total revenues and grants are also projected to rise, but by only 3.3%. Fishing license revenue is seen to increase but not enough to offset revenue declines from suspended operations at the gold mine. The government expects to incur a deficit, equivalent to 4.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for a second consecutive year and plans to draw down cash reserves to finance the deficit.
Consumer prices have been declining in 2015 following large flood-related price rises last year. Softening international food and fuel prices have contributed. Between January and July 2015, consumer prices were 2.4% lower than in the same period in 2014 driven by reductions in prices for food, drinks and tobacco, and housing and utilities declined. However, core inflation remains positive suggesting that headline inflation will rise in the latter part of the year.
The forecast for 2016 remains unchanged as growth is expected to benefit from planned fiscal expansion.
The domestic economy is expected to be more buoyant in 2015 than the previous year. The interplay between key domestic sectors and global price trends is anticipated to support further recovery. Economic growth is anticipated to increase in 2015 to 3.3% from 2.0% in 2014. In the primary sector, the key drivers are fisheries and agriculture while logging is expected to subside after the significant jump in 2014. The mineral sector, in spite of positive contributions from bauxite exports, would still see a decline in 2015 with the absence of gold.
External conditions are expected to improve slightly over the previous year despite expectations that the structural current account imbalance would remain in 2015. Budget support and donor capital inflows are expected to outstrip the current account deficit and boost gross foreign reserves. The export sector however could worsen on the back of anticipated declines from gold and log export receipts while imports are expected to rise modestly. Persistent falling oil prices gives temporary reprieve for the economy in terms of lower fuel import bills at least for 2015.
Date updated: March 2016
Current Climate
Solomon Island’s annual and half-year minimum temperatures have been increasing at Honiara since 1953 and Munda (on the island of New Georgia in the Western Province) since 1962. Minimum temperature trends are generally stronger than maximum temperature trends. There have been significant increases in Warm Nights and decreases in Cool Nights at Honiara and Munda. Cool Days have decreased at Munda. These temperature trends are consistent with global warming.
Annual and half-year rainfall trends show little change at Honiara since 1950 and Munda since 1962. At Honiara, there is a decreasing trend in the number of rain days since 1955 and at Munda there is an increasing trend in annual maximum 1-day rainfall since 1962.
Tropical cyclones affect Solomon Islands mainly between November and April. An average of 29 cyclones per decade developed within or crossed the Solomon Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between the 1969/70 to 2010/11 seasons. Tropical cyclones were most frequent in El Niño years (39 cyclones per decade) and least frequent in La Niña and neutral years (21 cyclones per decade). Twenty-two of the 82 tropical cyclones (27%) between the 1981/82 and 2010/11 seasons were severe events (Category 3 or stronger) in the Solomon Islands EEZ. Fifteen of the 22 intense events occurred in seasons when an El Niño was present. Available data are not suitable for assessing long-term trends.
Wind-waves around the Solomon slands vary across the country, being small at Honiara, while at the outlying islands such as Santa Cruz waves are much larger. Seasonally, waves are influenced by the trade winds and the West Pacific Monsoon (WPM), and display variability on inter annual time scales with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, 2014.
Future Climate
For the period to 2100, the latest global climate model (GCM) projections and climate science findings indicate:
- El Niño and La Niña events will continue to occur in the future (very high confidence), but there is little consensus on whether these events will change in intensity or frequency;
- Annual mean temperatures and extremely high daily temperatures will continue to rise (very high confidence);
- Annual rainfall is projected to increase slightly (low confidence), with more extreme rain events (high confidence);
- Incidence of drought is projected to decrease slightly (low confidence);
- Ocean acidification is expected to continue (very high confidence);
- The risk of coral bleaching will increase in the future (very high confidence);
- Sea level will continue to rise(very high confidence); and
- December–March wave heights are projected to decrease (low confidence), while there are no significant changes projected in June–September waves (low confidence)
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, 2014.
Date updated: March 2016
Governance
Solomon Islands Climate Change Policy 2012-2017 has ‘enabling environment and institutional arrangements’ as one of its first policy outcomes, directives and strategies. The higher level outcome is improved governance as a result of establishing effective institutional arrangement and enabling environment in place to address climate change as an integrated and cross-cutting development issue. The directive and strategies of this policy outcome is provided here:
1. Solomon shall have in place an effective enabling environment and institutional arrangement to plan, implement and coordinate an integrated and multi-stakeholder participatory approach to addressing climate change. To ensure this is achieved, the Government shall:
a. Strengthen capacity of the Climate Change Division as the government lead agency overseeing climate change to lead, guide and coordinate national programs and actions addressing climate change, and coordinate preparations and participation in international climate change negotiations.
b. Draft and enact national climate change legislation to give legal mandate to the government lead agency responsible for climate change and its associated coordinating and implementation bodies and that shall also include provisions for mandatory assessments and reporting for purposes of planning, implementing and evaluating climate change adaptation and mitigation actions.
c. Establish a National Climate Change Council to oversee the implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of national climate change policies and strategies.
d. Establish a Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) to provide inter-agency and inter-stakeholder coordination for the implementation of the policy. The Membership, scope and role of the CCWG is presented in Annex 5 of the Policy. For access to annex 5 of the policy, download a copy of the policy here: [link to Solomon Island Climate Change Policy 2012-2017 coming soon]
e. Strengthen capacity of the government lead agency overseeing climate change to be the Secretariat of the National Climate Change Council.
f. Enhance the role and capacity of the Environment and Conservation Standing Committee of Parliament to include oversight over Climate Change.
g. Develop national and provincial level climate change policies and strategies that is in line with the NDS and other national sector policies and National Disaster Management Framework.
h. Establish national Thematic Working Groups (TWG) to provide technical and strategic support and advice to the lead agency and National Climate Change Council on climate change issues. The working groups shall oversee the following climate change thematic areas;
i. Vulnerability, disaster risk reduction and adaptation;
ii. Mitigation & Greenhouse gas inventory;
iii. Research, Systematic Observation and Technology Transfer; and
iv. Education, awareness and capacity building.
The membership, broad scope and role of the Thematic Working Groups and linkage to the lead agency and National Climate Change Council is presented in Annex 6 of the Policy document.
i. Establish formal climate change coordination arrangements within Provincial Governments using existing or new coordinating bodies.
j. Designate officials as Climate Change Focal Points within national and provincial government Ministries and Departments as well as national institutions and civil society organizations
k. Establish community-based or village-based climate change coordination arrangements using existing or new coordinating bodies.
In its efforts to pursue social and economic development objectives the people and government of Solomon Islands have been relying heavily on the nation’s natural resources base and the support from development partners. Additionally, and despite its limited capacity, the government has taken significant steps in the past ten years to begin implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation actions including the development of the National Adaptation Program of Action, National Disaster Management Strategy, Renewable Energy Framework and establishing a government agency to oversee climate change. Civil society organizations are building capacity to support communities adapt to climate change and the private sector has made steady progress with renewable energy technologies.
The government recognizes that climate change is a sustainable development issue that brings challenges as well as opportunities. Achieving the optimum level of economic growth to support the rapidly growing population will require a scaling up of economic activities and utilization of natural capital that will also give rise to increasing environmental impacts and emissions of greenhouse gases in the future. Climate change will also threaten the successful implementation and achievement of Solomon Islands National Development Strategy into the future and place added burden on government resources.
Building on the progress to date and recognizing the need to enhance adaptive capacity while pursuing a low carbon development pathway, Solomon Islands recently developed its climate change policy 2012-2017 that provides a national strategic framework for the country to address the challenges and benefit from the opportunities that climate change brings. The policy links government, civil society and development partners in a strategic and coordinated approach to addressing climate change. It seeks to find a balance between socio-economic development and sustainable utilization of natural resources as a climate change adaptation and mitigation measure. The policy is framed to take advantage of the dual benefits of adaptation through mitigation and to position the country to benefit from the growing range of global innovative financing opportunities such as the Adaptation Fund, the Green Climate Fund, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
On the international front Solomon Islands is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)and its Kyoto Protocol which together make up the core of the international policy response to climate change. Solomon Islands is also a signatory to the Hyogo Framework on Disaster Risk Management and has been involved in the European Union- Global Climate Change Alliance programmes . The country continues to benefit from funding by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which is the financing mechanism for the UNFCCC made available through Implementing Agencies such as the UNDP, UNEP, FAO and World Bank.
Within the Pacific regional level, Solomon Islands is a signatory to the Pacific Plan, Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change (PIFACC)and the Regional Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management that have established climate change and disaster risk management related objectives and actions. Partnerships continue to be developed with a number of international and regional inter-governmental organizations, some of which have specific mandates to assist their member countries address climate change, disaster risk management and related development issues. At the national level the government’s overarching development planning framework is the Solomon Islands National Development Strategy: 2011-2020 (NDS). The NDS includes a range of Focus Areas and Objectives, Policies and Strategies that together can contribute to enhance adaptation, disaster risk management and mitigation capacity in Solomon Islands.
Amongst the Strategy’s various themes and objectives, Theme 7 is targeted at ‘Creating and Maintaining the Enabling Environment’. Under this theme are two objectives including;
Objective 7: Effectively Respond to Climate Change and Manage the Environment and Risks of Natural Disasters.
Objective 8: Improve Governance and Order at National, Provincial and Community Levels and Strengthen Links at all levels.
Under each of the above objectives are a range of policies and strategies which are also reflected in Solomon Island’s climate change policy. Solomon Islands have an armoury of national legislations and regulations together with a range of policies to support development planning and implementation. Many of the legislations and regulations still need to be effectively enforced through strengthened capacity of the government.
For more information, go to: Solomon Island Climate Change Policy 2012-2017
Date updated: March 2016
National Climate Change Priorities
The Solomon Islands Climate Change Policy is the most up to date national source of document that outlines the priorities of Solomon Islands to respond to threats of climate change at a national scale..
There are ten (10) national climate change priorities or objectives to respond to climate change and include:
Priority | Objective |
|---|---|
a) Enabling Environment and Institutional Arrangements | Solomon shall have in place an effective enabling environment and institutional arrangement to plan, implement and coordinate an integrated and multi-stakeholder participatory approach to addressing climate change. |
b) Mainstreaming of Climate Change | Climate change shall be mainstreamed into all development sectors and integrated into the work of government agencies, national institutions, civil society and private sector |
c) Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) | The Government of Solomon Islands considers it vital and urgent to develop the capacity of the country to assess risks and vulnerabilities associated with climate variability and change and to reduce climate change risks and adapt to the predicted impacts of climate change. This includes short term disaster risk reduction measures for climate variability and episodic extreme events, and long term adaptation to climate change including, inter-alia, enhancing ecosystem and social resilience, climate proofing infrastructure and relocating communities as a last resort. |
d) Mitigation | Solomon Islands government will continue to exhort Annex-1 countries to reduce their GHG emissions. On its part the government is committed to carrying out its own inventory of emissions and pursue nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) to reduce its own GHG emissions through use of renewable energy and other mitigation technologies that brings benefits to the country’s economy, environment and improves the livelihoods of its people. |
e) Research and Systematic Observation | The government shall work together with national stakeholders and development partners to ensure that there is a better understanding of climate change at all levels and sections of society for the effective planning and implementation of appropriate climate change adaptation and mitigation actions. |
f) Technology Transfer | The government recognizes the importance of technology transfer to enhance the country’s capacity to carry out adaptation and mitigation actions. Technology transferred for use in Solomon Islands should be proven and adaptable, environmentally friendly, appropriate to user, culturally friendly, and can be managed on a sustainable basis. |
g) Education, Awareness and Capacity Building | The government shall work together with stakeholders and development partners to strengthen the capacity of national, provincial and community organizations and human resources for the effective planning and implementation of appropriate climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and mitigation actions. |
h) Finance and Resource Mobilization | The government will ensure that technical assistance and financial resources to support climate change programs and projects in the country is mobilized, managed and accounted for in an efficient, participatory, and transparent manner. |
i) Partnership and Cooperation | The government shall develop and maintain strong partnerships and work cooperatively with its national partners, stakeholders, regional and international organizations and institutions and development partners to address climate change. |
j) Monitoring and Evaluation | The government shall establish a mechanism to monitor the implementation of this climate change policy. |
The Solomon Islands Climate Change Policy Vision is: A resilient, secure and sustainable Solomon Islands responding to climate change. Its mission statement is: To enhance adaptation, disaster risk reduction and mitigation capacity throughout the Solomon Islands that contributes to increased resilience and achievement of sustainable development goals.
*link to Solomon Islands Climate Change Policy coming soon*
Date updated: March 2016
Adaptation
Solomon Island’s third climate change priority outlined in its national climate change policy 2012-2017 addresses key themes of vulnerability, adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The Government of Solomon Islands considers it vital and urgent to develop the capacity of the country to assess risks and vulnerabilities associated with climate variability and change and to reduce climate change risks and adapt to the predicted impacts of climate change. This includes short term disaster risk reduction measures for climate variability and episodic extreme events, and long term adaptation to climate change including, inter-alia, enhancing ecosystem and social resilience, climate proofing infrastructure and relocating communities as a last resort.
Accordingly, the priority directives and strategies to minimize vulnerability and risks and enhance adaptation capacity the government include the following:
a) Address the NAPA priority sectors and implement the range of projects and actions as Solomon Islands urgent adaptation needs. In order of priority, these include;
(i) “increase the resilience of food production and enhance food security to the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise.”
(ii) increase the resilience of water resources management to impacts of climate change and sea-level rise
(iii) improve the capacity for managing impacts of climate change and sea-level
(iv) rise on human settlements
(v) increase the capacity of health professionals to address adverse impacts of climate on human health
(vi) promote climate change education, awareness and information dissemination
(vii) facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change and sea-level rise in low lying and artificially built-up islands in Malaita and Temotu provinces.
(viii) better manage impacts of climate change on waste management
(ix) increase the resilience and enhance adaptive capacity of coastal communities, socio-economic activities and infrastructure
(x) improve the understanding of the effects of climate change and climate variability including El Nino-Southern Oscillation on the inshore and tuna fishery resources
(xi) climate proofing of key infrastructure to risks including sea-level rise.
(xii) integrate climate change adaptation strategies and measures into tourism planning and development.
b) Review and revise the NAPA and MECDM Strategic Plan and develop a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to address climate change over the short, medium and long term. The NAP shall address long term adaptation to climate change and short term disaster risk reduction in relation to climate variability.
c) Develop a Joint National Action Plan (JNAP) for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and other hazards, ensuring an integrated and coordinated manner at national, provincial and community levels.
d) Strengthen the capacity and partnerships of national and provincial government agencies, national institutions, NGOs, churches and all Solomon Island communities to undertake vulnerability and adaptation (V&A) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) assessments for different sectors and geographic areas.
e) Expand the national census portfolio and integrate questions to obtain data on extreme events, vulnerability and adaptation. Collaborate with and utilise data from other relevant sources to address features of risk.
f) Provide support to ministries, provincial governments and civil society organizations, including faith-based and private sector organisations, to review and revise their corporate plans, sector programs and strategies to include measures to assess vulnerability of sectors and identify and implement adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies and actions
g) Develop a coordinated and geo-referenced national information system covering livelihood assets – natural, human, financial, social and physical capital – that can be used to identify sensitivities to climate change, adaptive capacity, and key strategies covering vulnerable groups, natural resources and environmental management and disaster risk reduction and management.
h) Build capacity, plan and implement ecosystem-based vulnerability assessments and adaptation programs and actions including, inter-alia, implementation of the protected areas legislation and regulations, low-impact logging strategies, marine ecosystem management.
i) Undertake risk reduction and vulnerability assessments of urban settlements in Honiara, other urban centres, and sites of national economic priority. Plan and implement adaptation actions.
j) Undertake risk reduction and vulnerability assessments of rural communities and implement adaptation actions targeting prioritized vulnerable communities.
k) Strengthen capacity to integrate climate change considerations into Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and revise the Environment Act to integrate climate change.
l) Undertake gender analysis and integrate gender considerations as part of vulnerability and disaster risk assessments as well as adaptation actions. Inclusive participation of women and youth should be actively encouraged at all levels in order to build the capacity of vulnerable groups.
m) Develop a relocation guideline and assessment tools, build capacity and implement relocation of communities as an adaptation action where and when necessary.
n) Strengthen capacity of Solomon Islands Meteorological Services and National Disaster Management Office to provide appropriate field instrumentation and early warning systems with special focus on regions in the country more vulnerable to extreme events.
(o) Promote and implement community based programs and actions within a cooperative framework to strengthen social capital, skills and resilience as an adaptation strategy.
For more information, go to: [links to Solomon Island Climate Change Policy and Solomon Island NAPA coming soon]
Date updated: March 2016
Mitigation
High levels of GHG emitted into the atmosphere mainly by developed countries and some large developing countries is the main cause of global warming and climate change. During international negotiations over the past years Solomon Islands has joined other LDCs, SIDS and the AOSIS to urge developed (Annex 1) countries to commit to establishing GHG emission targets, limit CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere to 350ppm from the current 380ppm and to limit atmospheric temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. The Solomon Islands National Communications to the UNFCCC has established that the energy, forestry (logging) and waste management sectors produce the most GHG emissions in the country. According to many scientists it is possible to decrease the level to 350ppm. This can be achieved by not using coal as fuel, protect and plant more areas of forests, shift to a low emission agriculture practice, improve waste management to reduce emissions and increase significantly the use of renewable energy.
Solomon Island’s fourth climate change priority outlined in its national climate change policy 2012-2017 is mitigation. The mitigation priority for Solomon Islands government will be to continue to exhort Annex-1 countries to reduce their GHG emissions. On its part the government is committed to carrying out its own inventory of emissions and pursue nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) to reduce its own GHG emissions through use of renewable energy and other mitigation technologies that brings benefits to the country’s economy, environment and improves the livelihoods of its people. To achieve this the government plans to:
- Build capacity of Government, private sector and other relevant institutions to undertake regular inventory of GHG emissions and sinks (removals), monitor emissions and removals, establish the national carbon balance and prioritize emission reduction strategies and actions.
- Develop a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) strategy at National, Provincial and Honiara City Council and other urban areas that can contribute to the achievement of a Low Carbon Development. The NAMA will include clear measurable targets and include the following sectors and themes:
- Renewable energy and energy efficiency
- Reducing emissions from the forest sector through sustainable forest management, CDM projects, REDD+ projects and voluntary carbon trading mechanisms.
- Low emission agriculture including promotion of organic and low tillage agriculture
- Reducing emissions from the waste sector
- Strengthen capacity of Government, private sector and other relevant institutions for the implementation of the national Renewable Energy Policy Framework, and develop and implement renewable energy strategies for Honiara city and Provinces, with measurable targets.
- Strengthen capacity of the Climate Change lead agency as the Designated National Authority for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and regulatory body for carbon trade, to raise awareness about CDM and its benefits to the country and build capacity of national stakeholders to design and implement CDM projects.
- Establish and strengthen governance and capacity for carbon trade through CDM, REDD+ and Voluntary Carbon Trading including establishment of carbon trading legislation.
- Ensure resource owners maximize benefits from carbon trading arrangements by immediately raising awareness on carbon trade in the forest sector and establish procedures for assessing investors and carbon trading arrangements between investors and communities as an interim measure, prior to the enactment of carbon trading legislation and regulatory framework.
- Strengthen capacity of Ministry of Forest and Research to support forest resource owners implement sustainable forest management and forest carbon assessments for effective monitoring, reporting and verification under carbon trading regimes. Strengthen capacity of Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to support resource owners implement carbon assessments and carbon trading through agriculture mitigation and renewable energy programs.
- Integrate gender analysis and gender considerations in planning and implementation of mitigation actions.
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions
Solomon Islands mitigation contribution pledged in September 2015 is for the period 2020, with reference to 2025 and ending in 2030 for defining contribution or outcomes as follows:
Type and level of commitment:
All commitments are premised on:
- A fair and ambitious agreement being reached, reflecting Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities; and
- Timely access to international climate change financing, capacity building and technology.
Solomon Islands is a LDC SIDS, that will nonetheless commit to reduce emissions by: 12% below 2015 level by 2025 and 30% below 2015 level by 2030 compared to a BaU projection. On the understanding that a global agreement addresses international assistance to access financial and technical resources, Solomon Islands can with international assistance, contribute a further:
- 27% reduction in GHG emissions by 2025; and
- 45% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, compared to a BaU projection.
With appropriate international assistance, Solomon Islands can reduce its emissions by more than 50% by 2050
Reference year or period: 2015. The BaU projection is based on an extrapolation of historic data covering the period 1994-2010
Estimated quantified emissions impact:
In addition to the carbon storage in the forest and ocean ecosystem, Solomon Islands unconditional contribution will reduce 8,300 tCO2e annually Solomon Islands’ conditional contribution (with international assistance) will reduce emissions by 18,800 tCO2e annually by 2025, and by 31,125 tCO2e annually by 2030
Coverage | % of National emissions | INDC covers fossil fuels and forest sequestration. Fossil-fuel use covers more than 95% of the reported national inventory |
| Gases | Carbon dioxide only (estimated > 95% of inventory) |
| Sectors | Energy sector: Power (39%) Transport (61%) Renewable and EE Land use, Land Use Change and Forestry |
| Geographical boundaries | Whole of country |
Further information, relevant to commitment type | Commitments are in the form of Outcomes and Actions. These are referenced as deviation from Business as Usual projections. BaU projections are based on fossil fuel consumption data for the period 1994-2010, with line of best fit extrapolation to 2030. The projection will be revised to include more accurate information with the Third National Communication and Biennial Update Report. | |
Intention to use market based mechanisms to meet commitments
| Solomon Islands will consider other avenues as well as market based mechanisms to support establishment and operation of a National Climate Change Trust Fund | |
Land sector accounting approach
| Appropriate methodologies drawn from international best practice to quantify sequestration from above 400m contour and forest plantations | |
Estimated macro-economic impact and marginal cost of abatement | NE | |
For more information go to: Solomon Islands INDC
Date updated: March 2016
Knowledge Management & Education
In the Solomon Islands, education, awareness and capacity building are essential components of minimizing risks and vulnerabilities and adapting to climate change. Capacity building actions can take place at the systemic (enabling environment), institutional and individual levels and should have the ownership of target beneficiaries to ensure effective implementation of adaptation and mitigation actions.
The 2012-2017 climate change policy’s 7th policy outcome and priority is education, awareness and capacity building. The directive is such that the government shall work together with stakeholders and development partners to strengthen the capacity of national, provincial and community organizations and human resources for the effective planning and implementation of appropriate climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and mitigation actions. The strategies for this directive are:
a) Support agencies and partners to develop and implement climate change communication strategies to ensure that clear messages about climate change are produced and disseminated.
b) Integrate climate change into the national primary, secondary and tertiary as well as non-formal curricula.
c) Assess capacity needs from time to time and identify and prioritize human resources development needs and train specialized experts through targeted scholarships and training activities.
d) Design and deliver training packages aimed at raising people’s understanding of climate change and enhance knowledge and skills to plan and implement adaptation, disaster risk reduction and mitigation actions.
e) Strengthen data and information management systems and protocols to enable effective dissemination and sharing of information.
A number of climate change adaptation projects have addressed a number of these strategies as demonstrations. For example the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Solomon Islands project (PACC). For more information on these projects, click the "Related Projects" tab.
Date updated: March 2016
References
The following references have been used to develop the country profile. It is important to note that contributions are from local, regional and international agencies. The profile is reviewed by the national focal point for accuracy. We encourage you to contact the country contacts (focal points) if any documents cannot be accessed through the links.
- Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO (2014). Climate Variability, Extremes and Change in the Western Tropical Pacific: New Science and Updated Country Reports. Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Program Technical Report, Australian Bureau of Meteorology and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Melbourne, Australia
- Solomon Islands Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology [SIMECM] (2009).Solomon Islands National Adaptation Programmes of Action. Retrieved from http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/napa/slb01.pdf
- Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Energy Programme, Economic Development Division. Suva, Fiji. (2012) Solomon Islands Country Energy Security Indicator Profile 2009.
- Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Aviation [SIMCTA] (2004). Solomon Islands. Initial National Communications under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Retrieved from http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/slbnc1.pdf
Date updated: March 2016