Climate Resilient Honiara
Climate change is already a reality for Solomon Islands and its communities. Solomon Islanders have a deep understanding of the environment and how it may be affected by climate change.
UN-Habitat is implementing Climate Resilient Honiara, with a number of Solomon Islands organisations involved as executing entities. RMIT University is providing technical and scientific support to the project.
The purpose of the project is to reduce Honiara's communities' vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change. By implementing this project in Honiara, there will be key learnings relevant to climate change resilience across Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific.
Cover photo credit: John Clemo, 2019
Who is involved in Climate Resilient Honiara?
Project funding comes from United Nations' Adaptation Fund. This is a funding source for countries seeking support for climate adaptation measures.
UN-Habitat is implementing the project. This is UN's human settlement branch, with significant global experience in managing the effects of climate change and urbanisation on settlements.
The executing entities in Honiara are:
1. Honiara City Council - the key focal points for the project are the City Clerk and the Council's Climate Change and Resilience Officer
2. Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey - with a number of key staff and resources dedicated to the Participatory Informal Settlement Upgrade Programme
3. Ministry of Environment, Disaster, Meteorology and Climate Change - as a key policy and decision-making body in Solomon Islands.
The project also has technical and scientific support from RMIT University, Melbourne (see segment at bottom of page for more details).
Key Climate Resilient Honiara documents
- Honiara Urban Resilience and Climate Action Plan (2016)
The ‘HURCAP’ (see cover photo to the left) is a key document for the Climate Resilient Honiara project. The HURCAP includes actions at central government, local government and community level to build resilience in relation to climate change.
- Honiara Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (2014)
This Vulnerability Assessment described the key climate vulnerabilities for Honiara City. The Assessment identified a number of ‘climate hotspot’ communities across the city, which were referenced in the subsequent HURCAP.
- UN-Habitat Project Document (2017)
This document is the proposal to the Adaptation Fund for the Climate Resilient Honiara project. It describes the executing entities, key stakeholders, activities and budgets for the project.
Where does Klaemet Storis fit in?
A key element of the Climate Resilient Honiara project is engaging with communities not only in Honiara but across Solomon Islands. Klaemet Storis is intended as a platform for education, advocacy and understanding the effects of climate change on Solomon Islands communities.
The Honiara City Council Climate Change and Resilience Officer will be responsible throughout the project for knowledge management, including as a champion for Klaemet Storis in coordination with the Solomon Islands Climate Action Network.
Role of RMIT University
RMIT University, located in Melbourne, has been involved in a number of climate change projects throughout the Pacific. Staff from RMIT University, led by Professor Darryn McEvoy, have been providing scientific and technical inputs into the project through a number of work packages, including engineering solutions such as evacuation centres; community profiling; urban agriculture; nature-based solutions; land administration; and climate action planning.
More information on RMIT University's involvement in Climate Resilient Honiara is available on their website.
Photo credit: Climate Resilient Honiara Facebook page, 2019.
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