Solomon Islands commitment for Strengthening Meteorological Infrastructure Management and Sustainability

Solomon Islands has reaffirmed its commitment to protect lives, support livelihoods and build climate resilience infrastructure through reliable meteorological observations and infrastructure.

Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Hon. Polycarp Paea underscored the Government’s commitment at the High-Level side-event on ‘Sustainable Asset Management Financing for Meteorological Equipment and Infrastructure in the Pacific Region’, organised by the Weather Ready Pacific Program, held on 14 November 2025 in the margins of the UNFCCC COP30, in Brazil.  

Minister Paea stated, “Over the years, we have recognized that sustainable management of our meteorological infrastructure is not only a technical issue, but also a national resilience issue.”

He emphasised that reliable weather observations are critical for addressing national resilience efforts and highlighted some of Solomon Islands Meteorological Services strategic efforts particularly on: Asset Mapping and Inventory, Integration into National Planning, Capacity Development and leveraging support through Regional and International Collaboration with organisations such as SPREP and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

The Minister further expressed some of the country’s challenges in achieving its strategic objectives, particularly on aging and obsolete equipment, limited connectivity and power supplies, and funding and institutional constraints. He added that with competing priorities, “resources are stretched across many urgent needs, health, education, infrastructure, to name a few, which often leaves meteorological systems underfunded despite their importance”.

In ensuring long-term sustainability, Hon. Paea emphasized that Solomon Islands is exploring a Sustainable Asset Management Financing (SAMF), work to promoting public-private partnerships and will continue to seek stronger regional cooperation for modernizing observation networks.

Minister Paea highlighted that sustainable investment and innovative financing are vital components for Solomon Islands, to safeguard lives and livelihoods as the country faces the challenges of climate change.

The High-Level Side Event was organised by the Weather Ready Pacific Programme. The Minister was part of the Panel Discussion along with the officials of WMO and Adaptation Fund.

Caption: Panel together with participants at the Side-Event on Sustainable Asset Management Financing for Meteorological Equipment and Infrastructure in the Pacific Region

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