Solomon Islands now sees climate-related loss and damage not only as an environmental concern but also as a national development challenge, with an estimated USD 79 million spent every year on climate-related loss and damage.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, David Hiriasia revealed the alarming figures during a 3-day workshop conducted this week by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Ministry for members of the local media.
Loss and damage refers to the irreversible negative impacts of climate change that occur despite global efforts to reduce emissions or adapt to climate risks. These include both economic and non-economic losses, which continue to pose major challenges regionally and globally.
Although considered a relatively new issue, Permanent Secretary Hiriasia highlighted that the Solomon Islands Climate Loss and Damage Evidence Base Report confirmed that almost nine percent of the country’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is lost to climate-related loss and damage.
“This is not just an environmental concern; it is a national development challenge, a growing economic burden, and a human crisis. We saw this clearly during the 2014 Honiara floods,” he said.
“The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment conducted by the World Bank documented that, in just a matter of days, the event caused USD 107.8 million in damages, equivalent to 9.2 percent of GDP,” he added.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, David Hiriasia.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted that many impacts, particularly non-economic losses, cannot be measured in monetary terms.
These include islands that have sunk, leaving communities without a sense of place, identity, and history.
Hiriasia said the workshop for media personnel is important because it will help ensure accurate and effective reporting so that these stories are properly told and better understood.
“This is why the role of the media is so critical. Loss and damage is not just about figures and reports; it is about people, communities, and lived experiences.
“The media has the power to transform statistics into human narratives, to amplify the voices of those on the frontline, and to ensure that the world understands the human dimension of climate change,” he said.
Meanwhile, the training is supported by the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity Project, funded by the Government of New Zealand.
It is the first initiative of its kind aimed at providing journalists with a better understanding of loss and damage and equipping them to better inform the public on the issue.
