Launch of new Whole of Island Approach Synthesis report for Abaiang Atoll in Kiribati
Complex information gathered during an assessment of Abaiang atoll in Kiribati has been simplified with the support of USAID into a new, easy to understand publication for communities, schools and non-technical audiences.
The publication presents Abaiang’s exposure to the effects of climate change and disaster risks from a technical as well as local community perspective. The key concerns of communities included accessing drinking water, coastal erosion, increasing temperature and diminishing land and marine resources.
The Government of Kiribati selected Abaiang from a group of atolls considered
‘most vulnerable’ due to factors such as the inland shift of 80 metres of the coastline threatening Tebunginako village and what is a large population size for an outer island.
“This report is the culmination of our work to address the water issues on Abaiang Atoll in Kiribati, while undertaking our work we amassed a wide range of information and data which we are sharing in this synthesis report,” said Ms. Azarel Mariner, the Abaiang Project Manager at SPREP.
“We’re really pleased to showcase this information and the actions undertaken as part of our project and hope it is found useful by others who wish to embark on similar activities or undertake further work on Abaiang.”
Representatives from the Office of the Beretitenti (President) and the Kiribati National Expert Group on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management travelled to Abaiang to conduct ‘integrated vulnerability assessments’ in 18 communities and all of the island’s schools and health centres. They were supported by specialist staff from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Data was collected and responses planned across multiple sectors, including water, fisheries, agriculture, education, health, and governance. The implementation of these responses will be supported through the integrated ‘Whole of Island’ Approach that promotes better coordination between community, local and national government and donor-funded projects.
Within the integrated approach, SPREP and the Kiribati Ministry of Public Works and Utilities, with project funding from USAID, have been working to improve water resources and coastal management in Abaiang by training communities, installing water supply infrastructure and establishing Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) sites.