Climate Change Resilience
Drought has been the focus in light of the impacts of El Nino currently experienced by the region, devastating countries like Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands and others with shortage of water. And with El Nino predicted to peak around December-January 2016 there is ongoing pressure for communities, government and partners to be prepared for the impacts particularly with water shortage in these countries and others. The Regional Statement on the El Nino and Potential Impacts for the Pacific Island issued on the 16 October, 2015 mentions “communities with a history of water related impacts associated with El Nino Events, now is the time to prepare for and respond to potentially abnormally drier of wetter conditions, depending upon the typical impacts, at the household, village, island and national levels”.
For an atoll island such as Abaiang, with fragile and small freshwater lenses which are threaten by sea level rise, king tides, storm surges, contamination and drought, the emphasis to manage and conserve water is of paramount importance. On 2 October this year, the Island Councilors, consisting of representatives from the 19 villages and the Island Development Committee comprised of nurses, police, mechanics, water technician, agriculture and fisheries assistants, women and youth representatives, faith based organisations, teachers, elders and others; came together to discuss actions and responses to undertake before, during and after a drought. The objective of the workshop and the plan was the Abaiang Island Drought Management and Response Plan be developed by “the community, for the community”. This initiative is implemented by SPREP, the Kiribati Ministry of Public Works and Utility and Global Water Partnership with funding by the USAID.
The Plan will build on existing Drought Plans such as the South Tarawa Drought Response Plan and continue to strengthen collaboration with the Kiribati Meteorology Services (KMS) in drought alert capacities. The Plan is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.
For an atoll island such as Abaiang, with fragile and small freshwater lenses which are threaten by sea level rise, king tides, storm surges, contamination and drought, the emphasis to manage and conserve water is of paramount importance. On 2 October this year, the Island Councilors, consisting of representatives from the 19 villages and the Island Development Committee comprised of nurses, police, mechanics, water technician, agriculture and fisheries assistants, women and youth representatives, faith based organisations, teachers, elders and others; came together to discuss actions and responses to undertake before, during and after a drought. The objective of the workshop and the plan was the Abaiang Island Drought Management and Response Plan be developed by “the community, for the community”. This initiative is implemented by SPREP, the Kiribati Ministry of Public Works and Utility and Global Water Partnership with funding by the USAID.
The Plan will build on existing Drought Plans such as the South Tarawa Drought Response Plan and continue to strengthen collaboration with the Kiribati Meteorology Services (KMS) in drought alert capacities. The Plan is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.