The impacts of climate change on small island communities, threaten the delivery of essential basic services further as extreme climatic conditions increase. UNDP fielded a technical mission to Ware Island in Milne Bay to assist communities prepare.

UNDP continues to pursue solutions addressing the impacts of climate change in Papua New Guinea, as part of the Building Resilience to Climate Change project, recently fielding a technical mission to communities to Ware Island in Milne Bay Province.

The teams' work highlighted the growing insecurity communities faced regarding water and food. Matters are made worse by population density and a lack of proper sanitation, which addressing remains a high priority for Ware Island’s communities. And like many other low-lying islands and atolls in Papua New Guinea, Ware Island is highly exposed to extreme climate conditions leaving inhabitants more vulnerable.

Ware islanders face unpredictable extremes of heavy rains, strong winds and cyclones, increased temperatures, drought, and saltwater intrusion of aquifers and salt sprays threatening food sources.

Working with the UNDP team, Ware islanders are proactively seeking solutions such as durable sea walls in areas already demonstrating coastal erosion to protect houses built closer to the shoreline. Looking at nature-based solutions, the team are working with communities to rehabilitate mangrove forests possible aiming for sustainability.

At present, the BRCC team is working to secure funding through a Small Grants Facility set up under the wider BRCC programme to address climate-related issues such as improving access to water, enhancing food security and installing locally appropriate sanitation facilities.

Faith-based organisations play crucial support roles in these remote islands and atolls. On Ware Island, the United Church has a strong presence and has constructed a climate-proof community building to support locals during disasters and emergency events, such as cyclones. Strong partnerships are required with local organizations that have a full-time presence on the ground to ensure greater stakeholder buy-in of project interventions over the longer term.

The Milne Bay mission was led by UNDP’s BRCC team of Bensolo Ken, Linda Kapus-Barae and UNDP Provincial Coordinator for Milne Bay Felicity Duks, with colleagues from the Climate Change Development Authority and officers from the Milne Bay Provincial Administration. The Building Resilience to Climate Change project is funded by Asian Development Bank.