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Environment & Sustainability Guide

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies in Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands, a small island developing state in the South Pacific comprising over 990 islands, faces escalating climate change threats including rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and ocean acidification. The nation maintains extensive forest cover serving as a significant carbon sink, though it confronts challenges in emissions reduction, limited climate adaptation funding, and community displacement due to climate impacts.

Air Quality Index

Good

7.5/10

Stable trend

Solomon Islands has limited air quality monitoring infrastructure. Available data from 2019 shows annual mean PM2.5 levels at 7.83 µg/m³ in urban areas, indicating relatively good air quality. However, comprehensive national air quality monitoring systems remain underdeveloped, limiting detailed trend analysis.

Water Quality

Moderate

6.5/10

Water quality in Solomon Islands presents mixed challenges. As of 2021, only 67.45% of the population had access to at least basic drinking water, and only 35.02% had access to basic sanitation facilities. Limited freshwater withdrawal data and inadequate water treatment infrastructure in many communities pose ongoing concerns for water security and public health.

Access to safe drinking water remains limited, with significant portions of the population lacking basic water infrastructure. Government water quality monitoring and treatment standards require strengthening to meet international health guidelines.

Recycling System

Solomon Islands lacks comprehensive national recycling infrastructure and data. Solid waste disposal contributes 363.1 ktCO2e to national emissions. The country faces challenges in waste management systems, with limited recycling programs and minimal documented recycling rates. Waste management remains an area requiring significant infrastructure development and policy implementation.

Green Spaces

Solomon Islands maintains extensive forest cover, with forests serving as vital carbon sinks. Forest-related removals were estimated at -26,267.7 ktCO2 in 2018, representing a 30:1 ratio of removals to emissions. The nation is implementing afforestation and reforestation programs to enhance carbon sequestration. Protected area management is being strengthened through GIS training and invasive species management initiatives coordinated by SPREP.

Forest Coverage: 78.0%

Solomon Islands is developing a network of protected areas with support from SPREP (Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme). Recent initiatives include GIS training for enhanced protected area management and invasive species management programs in collaboration with local communities.

Environmental Policies

Solomon Islands has adopted comprehensive climate and environmental policies aligned with international commitments. The nation submitted its Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) targeting 8% emissions reduction by 2035 under a with-measures scenario, and up to 34% reduction when including forest removals. The country is committed to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, with specific focus on renewable energy deployment and sustainable aviation.

Key Policies:

•Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) with 8% emissions reduction target by 2035
•Planned Relocation Guidelines for climate-vulnerable communities
•State Action Plan 2025 for reducing CO2 emissions from international aviation
•Sustainable Development Goals commitment reaffirmed in 2025
•Renewable energy transition initiatives

Renewable Energy: Solomon Islands is prioritizing renewable energy deployment as a key mitigation measure. As of early 2025, approximately 3.3 ktCO2e/yr have been mitigated through renewable energy implementation since 2015. The country aims to expand renewable energy capacity while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Natural Disaster Risk

HIGH

Solomon Islands faces elevated natural disaster risk driven by frequent and severe weather events. The nation experiences tropical cyclones, flooding, and storm surge impacts. Climate projections indicate intensifying hazards with increased temperatures, rainfall variability, and sea level rise. Recent community relocations from coastal areas underscore the acute threat posed by rising seas and intensifying storms.

Tropical cyclonesFloodingStorm surgeSea level rise impactsOcean acidification

Climate Change Impacts: Climate change projections for Solomon Islands indicate significant increases in land and sea surface temperatures, rainfall, sea level, and ocean acidification by 2030 and 2055 under high global GHG emissions scenarios. Rising sea levels have already forced community relocation: the Walande Indigenous community relocated from their island home to mainland Malaita due to intensifying sea level rise and storms. Between 2011 and 2021, Solomon Islanders received only US$20 per year in foreign climate adaptation aid, severely limiting adaptive capacity. The nation's remote location, high export concentration, and vulnerability to natural hazards create compounding climate risks affecting economic, social, and cultural systems.

Sustainability Initiatives

Renewable Energy Transition

Solomon Islands is implementing renewable energy deployment as a core mitigation strategy. Since 2015, renewable energy initiatives have mitigated approximately 3.3 ktCO2e/yr. The country prioritizes renewable energy expansion to reduce fossil fuel dependence and achieve emissions reduction targets outlined in its NDC 3.0.

Sustainable Aviation

Solomon Islands submitted a State Action Plan 2025 to reduce CO2 emissions from international aviation. Mitigation measures include aircraft technology improvement, operational efficiency enhancements, airport infrastructure upgrades, sustainable aviation fuel deployment, and market-based measures. The nation contributes to ICAO's long-term global aspirational goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050.

Forest Conservation and Carbon Sequestration

Solomon Islands maintains vast existing forests as vital carbon sinks. Forest-related removals totaled -26,267.7 ktCO2 in 2018, representing a 30:1 ratio of removals to emissions. The nation is implementing afforestation and reforestation programs to enhance carbon sequestration and expects forest removals to continue exceeding GHG emissions well beyond 2035.

Protected Area Management and Invasive Species Control

Solomon Islands is strengthening protected area networks through GIS training and field data collection initiatives. SPREP and the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Support Management Service (PRISMSS) collaborate with the Solomon Islands Government and local communities to manage invasive species and enhance biodiversity conservation across protected areas.

Community-Led Climate Adaptation and Planned Relocation

Solomon Islands adopted Planned Relocation Guidelines to support communities facing acute climate impacts. The Walande Indigenous community successfully relocated from their island to mainland Malaita with support from Australia. However, relocated communities face ongoing challenges including insecure land tenure and limited access to land, highlighting the need for enhanced government and international support for adaptation measures.

Sustainable Tourism Development

Solomon Islands is positioning itself as a sustainable tourism destination with focus on environmental stewardship and community participation. The nation recognizes tourism's potential as a development driver while addressing environmental risks to reefs, forests, and cultural sites. Strategic investments prioritize infrastructure, education, environmental protection, and inclusive community engagement.

Wildlife & Nature

Solomon Islands Skink (Corucia zebrata)Vulnerable

Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus coerulicapillus)Common

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)Recovering

Coconut Crab (Birgus latro)Vulnerable

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