Honiara
Solomon Islands
Clim a t e Cha nge
Vulnerability Assessment

Honiara
Solomon Islands
Climate Change
Vulnerability Assessment

Honiara, Solomon Islands – Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
First edition 2014
United Nations Human Settlements Programme
P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
E-mail: infohabitat@unhabitat.org
www.unhabitat.org
HS Number: HS/026/14E
ISBN Number (Series): 978-92-1-132400-6
ISBN Number (Volume): 978-92-1-132615-4
DISCLAIMER
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on thepart of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning
the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or regarding its economic system or degree of development. The analysis conclusions and recommendations of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme or its Governing
Council.
Cover Photo © Bernhard BarthACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Funding for this report was provided by the United Nations Development Programme under Strengthening Environmental Management, andReducing the Impact of Climate Change in Solomon Islands (SEMRICC), the Government of Norway, and the United Nations Development
Account.
Principal Author:

Amillah S. Rodil

Contributing Author:

Maria Adelaida Antonette Mias-Cea

Reviewers:

Bernhard Barth, Sarah Mecartney, Valentine Thurairajah

Summarized by:

Maria Tomovic

Editor:

Maria Tomovic

Design and Layout:

Deepanjana Chakravarti

Special Thanks:

Department of Planning, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey, National Geographic Information Centre, National Disaster Management Office, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Honiara City Council and United Nations Development Programme geographic information systems
Consultants.

Foreword
It is widely recognised that small island nations of the Pacific region are the most exposed and sensitive to the impacts of climaterelated and natural hazards. For Honiara, this vulnerability was particularly highlighted by the devastating floods of April 2014,
which impacted many in our communities. Climate change, in combination with rapid urbanisation, means that the city of Honiara
faces considerable challenges both now and into the future.
The first step towards enhancing the resilience of our city and its communities to current climate variability and future change is tobetter understand the key vulnerabilities that exist within the urban environment. This assessment, conducted as part of UNHabitat’s Cities and Climate Change Initiative, is a valuable resource that not only applies state-of-the-art climate science to the
local context of Honiara, identifying some of the critical vulnerability hotspots; it also provides the necessary framework for
guiding action that will assist us in adapting to climate change.
As climate change will impact all areas of our city, our adaptation responses will require joint action. Therefore, collaboration
between different actors will be critical when dealing with such important and complex issues for our communities. We recognisethat ongoing engagement processes will contribute to informing adaptation actions and help to shape a climate resilient and more
liveable city in the future.
We, the undersigned, recognise the importance of this agenda for the city of Honiara, endorse this vulnerability assessment, anddeclare an ongoing commitment for the Planning for Climate Change process.

From Left: Steve Likaveke, Lands Permanent Secretary Stanley Wale, Professor Darryn McEvoy, Hon. Minister Andrew Manepora’a, Honiara City Lord Mayor Alfrence
Fatai, Moses Kaukui, Nicola Porter, Donald Kudu, Alexei Trundle

Source: Alexei Trundle May 2015

Contents
01

Introduction

01

02

Overview of the City

02

03

City-wide Vulnerability -04

Scoping Exposure, Sensitivity and
Adaptive Capacity

04

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
3.3.4
3.4
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3

Overview
ExposureSensitivity
Environmental SensitivityPhysical Systems Sensitivity
Economic Systems
Social Systems and Culture
Adaptive Capacity 
Autonomous Adaptation
Collective Adaptation
Institutional Adaptation

04

Vulnerable People, Places and Sectors

4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4

Koa HillFishing Village
Lord Howe Settlement
Matariu and Jericho

05

Identifying Key Adaptation Options

31

06

Recommendations and Conclusions

37

04
04
06
06
08
11
12
15
16
17
17

24
25
26
27
29

List of Figures
Figure 1:
Figure 2:
Figure 3:
Figure 4:
Figure 5:
Figure 6:
Figure 7:
Figure 8:
Figure 9:
Figure 10:
Figure 11:
Figure 12:
Figure 13:
Figure 14:
Figure 15:

Planning for Climate Change
Map of Honiara 
Location of Population Exposed to Riverine Floods
Exposure & Threat to the Transport System
Hazard Exposure of Water System
Sewerage System Susceptibility to Floods and Storm Surge
Location of Households (Census 2009)
Unauthorized Settlement Areas - Survey Zones
Adaptive Capacity Definition
Institutional Arrangements for the Implementation of the
Climate Change Policy
Institutional Framework for Disaster Risk Management
Map of Profiled Hotspots
Flood Prone Area of Koa Hill
Fishing Village Location and Hazards
Flood Prone Area, Lord Howe Settlement

01
03
05
08
09
10
12
13
15
18
19
24
26
26
29

List of Tables
Table 1:
Table 2:
Table 3:
Table 4:
Table 5:
Table 6:
Table 7:

Table 8:
Table 9:
Table 10:
Table 11:
Table 12:
Table 13:
Table 14:
Table 15:
Table 16:

Summary of Area and Population Figures, Honiara,
Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands (2009)
Summary of the Predicted Future Climate of Solomon
Islands
Solomon Islands Production Value of Key Crops, 2009
Indicators on Basic Necessities and Services
Autonomous Adaptation Measures to Lack of Basic
Necessities and Services
Climate Change Related Projects by National Ministries
National Adaptation Programmes of Action Priorities
and Ministries/ Honiara City Council Departments with
Relevant MandatesKey Honiara City Council Departments Relative to Climate
Change Adaptation and Mitigation
List of Profiled Hotspots
Koa Hill SummaryFishing Village SummaryLord Howe SummaryMatariu and Jericho Summary
Adaptation Options by Sector
Adaptation Ideas by Location
Relevant Ministries/ City Departments per Adaptation
Option

02
06
11
16
16
20

21
22
24
25
27
28
30
31
32
34

01
Introduction
The Honiara City Council Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment was developed
in response to a request for assistance to UNDP
and UN-Habitat by the Solomon Island Government
through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change,
Disaster Management and Meteorology and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey to implement key
recommendations of the Solomon Islands National
Development Strategy (2011-2020) and the National
Climate Change Policy (2012-2017).
Given the Government of the Solomon Islands National Climate Change Policy directive, the main purposeof the vulnerability and adaptation assessment for
Honiara is to provide national and local government
decision makers and community leaders with information relevant to defining their adaptation priorities
and plans, with the view of eventually integrating this
into their regular programmes and budgets. The vul-

nerability and adaptation assessment will also provide
guidance in identifying where and what critical actions
are needed to effectively manage the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
The vulnerability and adaptation assessment is envisioned to form part of a larger strategic urban planning process where stakeholder involvement is essential. Involving a significant segment of the society rightfrom the beginning of the assessment stage facilitates
not only the gathering of more detailed informationthat may not be available from the local government,
but also helps in interpreting data and information as
it relates to the unique experiences of different segments of the society. The participatory nature of thevulnerability and adaptation assessment is expected
to bring about broad-based decision making that increases the ability of local governments to mobilize
effective local actions.

Figure 1: Planning for Climate Change

Source: UN-Habitat and EcoPlan

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment01

02
Overview of the City
Honiara is located on Guadalcanal the largest island in
the country, measuring 160 kilometres in length and
45 kilometre wide at the centre. The island stretchesfrom the northwest to the southeast with a mountainous spine parallel with, and close to the southerncoast. Honiara is the capital city of the Solomon Islands and serves as its main transport hub and economic, political, and educational centre. It is locatedon the north coast of Guadalcanal with an area of 22
squarekilometres and a population of 64,609 (equivalent to 12.5 per cent of the country’s total population)in 2009. Honiara has 12 wards and is the most densely
populated area of the country with 2,953 persons per
square kilometres. and the highest average household
size (seven compared to 5.5 country average).
Honiara itself can be divided into two general geographical zones: the coastal zone, which forms a narrow alluvial plain varying in width from 120m on theeast to about 1.7 kilometre on the west and the grassy
foothills behind the coastal plain, which are incised by
the Mataniko and White River and their tributaries.

Table 1: Summary of Area and Population Figures, Honiara, Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands (2009)

Solomon Islands

Guadalcanal

HoniaraArea (sq.km)

28,336

5,336

22.73

Population

515,870

93,61364,609Average annual
population
growth rate (%)

2.3

4.4

2.7

Population
density (no. of
people/sq.km.)

17

18

2,953

No. ofhouseholds

91,251

17,163

8,981

Averagehousehold size

5.5

5.4

7

Source: UN-Habitat

02

Cities and Climate Change Initiative

The Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy
with three tiers of government: national, provincial
and local. The sub-national government is made upof nine provincial assemblies and the Honiara City
Council. The Council is headed by a mayor who appoints chairpersons to head the overall administrationof the council’s eight portfolios: education; land andplanning; works and transport; trade and commerce;
law enforcement; finance/administration; health andenvironment; and youth, sports, and women.

Given the responsibilities of the Honiara City Council,
increasing their capacity in understanding the disasterand climate risks of the city is critical in order for themto have the ability to coordinate and partner with wider stakeholders in instituting programmes, projects
and activities that would facilitate the city’s resilienceto the negative effects that climate change may bring.

Figure 2: Map of Honiara

Vuhokesa

Naha
Lungga River

NggosiWest Honiara

Mbumburu
Nggosi

Kukum

Cruz

Panatina

Rove
Lengakiki

East Honiara
Central Honiara

Vura

Kola’aMataniko

N

4 Km
2 Km

Source: UN-Habitat

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

03

03
City-wide Vulnerability Scoping Exposure, Sensitivity and
Adaptive Capacity
3.1 Overview
Three key determinants of vulnerability; exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity were analyzed during
the assessment of Honiara City. The guiding definitions based on United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change were used to frame the assessment process.
• Exposure is what is at risk from climate change (e.g.
population, resources, property) and the change inclimate itself (e.g. sea level rise, temperature, precipitation, extreme events, etc.).
• Sensitivity is defined as the degree to which a system is affected by the biophysical impact of climatechange. It considers the socio-economic context ofthe system being assessed.
• Adaptive capacity is the ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability
and extremes) to moderate potential damages, totake advantage of opportunities, or to cope with theconsequences. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Third Assessment Report outlines that
it is a function of wealth, technology, institutions,information, infrastructure and social capital.
Developing Adaptation Plans
The adaptation plans following the results of the vulnerability and adaptation assessment exercises were1

derived based on stakeholder consultations and dialogues where UN-Habitat’s “City Consultation Process” was used. The process promotes a “values-based
approach in planning” where the factors that the areavalues the most or deem highly important to theirwell-being were the core of action.

3.2 Exposure
The climate of the Solomon Islands is characterized byhigh and rather consistent temperature and humidity and, in most areas, abundant rainfall throughout
the year. It is located on the north-facing slopes of
Guadalcanal, which experiences a wet season during
the northeasterly airstream period between December
and April. Typically about 65 per cent of the 2,100milimetres mean annual rainfall in Honiara occurs during
the 5-month wet season. In addition to heavy rainfall,temperature records across the country over the past
decades show an increasing trend 1.
Additional exposure comes from a number of tropical
low pressure systems that occur each year over theSolomon Islands. However, few of these develop into
tropical cyclones. The average frequency of cyclone
occurrence is between one and two per year. In termsof sea level rise, records in the Honiara tide gauge from1994 to 2009 shows an increase of approximately 7.7mm per year, while satellite data shows an increase of
8mm per year since 1993. This is more than twice theglobal average rise of 2.8 to 3.6 mm per year .

Solomon Islands National Climate Change Policy 2007-2012

04

Cities and Climate Change InitiativeFlooding: Flooding in Honiara is usually caused byextreme rainfall during the months of December toApril or heavy rain brought on by cyclones. About 44
per cent of the total population of Honiara is sensitive
to flooding. The map below shows that even though
the flood-prone area is larger beside the Lungga River,there will be more people affected by the Mataniko
River because of the higher density of people. Compared to the rest of Guadalcanal, Honiara experiences
less impact because about 80 per cent of the city’sland area is situated on hills, and a relatively small area
is exposed to flooding.

Figure 3: Location of Population Exposed to Riverine Floods

LUNGGA RIVER
WHITE RIVER

MATANIKO RIVER

N

Areas Prone to Minor
Flash Flooding
River Floodplains

WHITE RIVER

MATANIKO RIVERLUNGGA RIVER

Nggosi Ward80 households
669 people

Mataniko Ward
Vuhokesa Ward
Vavaea Ward
Kola’a Ward584 households
1,962 people

Panatina Ward
226 households
1,351 people

Source: Designed by UN-Habitat based on a map made by Dalton Hone, National Geographic Information Centre, Solomon Islands.

Storm Surges: A storm surge is an offshore rise ofwater associated with a low pressure weather system,
typically tropical cyclones. Based on census data, thepopulation at risk to storm surge is 286 households
or 2,191 people, which is equivalent to about 25 percent of the total population.
Strong Wind from Cyclones: Cyclones can bring instrong winds. The maximum wind speed for Honiara
2

is about 75 miles per hour, with a 40 per cent chancethat this number will be exceeded at least once in thenext 50 years2.
Sea Level Rise: The maximum projected sea level risefor Honiara is 0.6m by the year 2090. Based on rapid
field assessment and community observation, in mostareas, the coastline is receding due to the compound
effect of storm surge, wave action, and sea level rise.

Asian Development Bank. (2011). Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative. SOPAC, World Bank, ADB.

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

05

Climate Models and Summary ofProjections
A recent report by the Pacific Climate Change Science
Programme funded by the Australian Government
analyzed up to 24 different global models of futureclimate based on three Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change scenarios: Low (B1), Medium (A1B)
and High (A2). The scenarios are linked to trends inglobal green house gas emissions and potential global
mitigation actions3 . The table below summarizes thepredicted future climate of the Solomon Islands.

Table 2: Summary of the Predicted Future Climate of Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands

Temperaturechange:(A1B scenario; PCCSP)
2030: 0.4-1.2 °C
2055: 0.9 -1.9 °C
2090: 1.5 – 3.1 °C

Precipitation
change:Average annual and seasonal rainfall projected to increase, however there is

Sea level Rise:(A1B scenario; PCCSP)

uncertainty in the projections (source: SIMS)

2030: 5-14 cm
2055: 8-30 cm
2090: 19-58 cm

Extreme Events:

Less frequent cyclones but likely to be more intense or severe (category 4 & 5)with a projected 2 to 11% increase in maximum wind speed (PCCSP)

Source: UN-Habitat

3.3 Sensitivity

ronment, and the natural environment interact and affect each other in specific places, and the biophysicalimpacts of climate change.

Section 4.2 summarized what the city is exposed togiven climate change. This section focuses on the local
risk effects of such changes. This process identified the“sensitivity” of people, places, activities, and institutions relative to their exposure to climate or weather
related impacts/biophysical effects, and Honiara’s environmental, physical, economic, and social systems.

3.3.1 Environmental Sensitivity
The environmental sensitivity of Honiara is assessed
through an urban ecosystems approach. This means
looking at how people, their activities, the built envi3

Coastal Plain: Most government facilities and commercial and industrial developments are located in Honiara’s coastal plain, as well as a few small but densely populated villages. Development on the foreshore
seems to be largely unregulated as many buildings andstructures encroach on it. Inadequate waste collection
has led to solid waste, particularly plastic waste, accumulating in deltas and beaches. An aging sewer
system and a lack of proper toilets in many areas haslead to untreated sewage flowing directly into the sea.
Aside from the pressures of urbanization, the area isalso at risk to sea level rise, storm surges, coastal ero-

Solomon Islands National Climate Change Policy 2007-2012

06

Cities and Climate Change Initiative

sion, and flooding. A rapid assessment of the coastline
shows many areas with damage from past storm surges, and evidence of coastal erosion.
Hills: Grassy foothills occupy about 80 per cent of Honiara, and contain mostly residential developments ofsingle detached houses. A number of informal settlements have sprung up in the past few decades, someof which have already encroached on customary land
beyond the town boundaries. Increasing development
and dwindling vegetation have led to soil erosion, affecting soil productivity, and increasing siltation andsurface runoff to creeks and rivers, and the potential
for flooding downstream. Residential development incatchment areas contaminates spring sources, particularly during heavy rain.
People living in the hills, particularly informal settlements, also face challenging conditions. Access is difficult because of steep slopes. Lack of secure tenure
and challenging terrain constrain the delivery of basic
services such as power, water, and garbage collection.
Uncollected solid waste often ends up in creeks.
(Top) Houses in Vavaea Ward,

Lungga River Watershed: The Lungga River watershed covers a total area of 388 square kilometre andis one of the biggest water catchments in Guadalcanal
Province. Impacts on the various catchments (upper,
middle and lower) include landslides, erosion and sedimentation of the river and flooding 4.

(Above) Creek in Kola’a ward, Taken November 2012
Photo © UN Habitat / Amillah Rodil(Left) Lungga River main channel(Above) One of its downstream outlets, Taken November 2012
Photo © UN Habitat / Amillah Rodil

Mataniko River Watershed: Four wards are included in its catchment area: Kola’a, Mataniko, Vuhokesa,
and Vavaea. Low-lying areas alongside the river areprone to flooding, in some areas up to 2m high. The

4coastal delta settlements are prone to flooding bothfrom the river and storm surges/ high tides, as wellas surface runoff from the hills. The relatively narrow
floodplain means that roads and houses are built close

Asian Development Bank. (2011). Vulnerability Assessment/ Adaptation Options: Solomon Islands. Asian Development Bank.

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment07

to the river’s edge. River bank erosion, if allowed tocontinue, can affect these structures.
White River Watershed: White River is located in
Nggosi ward, on the western edge of Honiara. Upstream is the main water source of the city, Kongulai
spring, and its main gravity line runs along the river.
It is also prone to regular flooding, with recent ones
having damaged water pipelines.

3.3.2 Physical Systems Sensitivity
Mobility: Honiara is the main transport hub of theSolomon Islands, connecting it to other countries

through its main airport, Henderson International Airport (now called Honiara International Airport), andthe port at Point Cruz. Given its significance as a transport link, Its sensitivity to floods is a major concern
Additional transportation networks include the port,
highways and bridges. The Honiara port is susceptible
to storm surges; cyclones have damaged the wharf in
1952, 1967 (twice), 1972, and 1986. A main highway
runs along the coastline and is sensitive to flash floods
and storm surges. Bridges crossing Lungga, Mataniko,and White River are also vulnerable to river flooding.
There is no alternative route by land so flooding (orany damage to bridges) can cut off land access toparts of the city and the rest of Guadalcanal.

Figure 4: Exposure & Threat to the Transport System

N

4 Km
2 Km

AirportBridgeFlood prone area

Port

Road

Storm surge/ Coastal
surge/ Sea level rise

Source: Designed by UN-Habitat based on a map made by National Geographic Information Centre, Solomon Islands.

08

Cities and Climate Change InitiativeWater Supply: The Solomon Islands Water Authority provides water to about 75 per cent of the 8,981
households in the city5. The rest get water throughlocal spring sources, rainwater (stored in tanks), wells,
and rivers/ streams. The Water Authority currently
sources its water from a combination of groundwaterand spring sources. Groundwater sources account for
40 per cent, while spring water sources account for 60
per cent of the total water provided to the city.
.
The water supply system is vulnerable to cyclones,

flooding, storm surge/coastal erosion/sea level rise,heavy rain, and droughts. In addition, a number ofissues plague the water supply system. Water shortage is normal, and about 25 per cent of the served
population experiences low water pressure, resulting
in insufficient water during the daytime6 . The water
system is also highly inefficient. Non-revenue water
constitutes 40 per cent. This is water that the Wather
Authorityis not able to charge for, due to pipe leaks
and bursts, scouring of mains, leaking taps, leaking
tanks, and illegal connections.

Figure 5: Hazard Exposure of Water System

Kogulai Gravity Line
Rove Gravity Line

Mbaranamba Pumping Line
Mb
KombitoPumping Line
o Pu
Pum
e
Town Boundry

KogulaiKo
ula Pumping Line
Tuvaruhu
varu PPumpingum
mp ng LineN
2 Km

KombitoK
bit Gravity Line

Kogulai Gravity Line

Kombito Pumping Line

Boreholes

Rove Gravity Line

Kombito Gravity Line

Springs

Kogulai Pumping Line

Mbaranamba PumpingLine

Flood prone area

Tuvaruhu Pumping Line

Storm surge/ Coastal
surge/ Sea level rise

Source: Designed by UN-Habitat based on a map made by Brian Pitakia, National Geographic Information Centre, Solomon Islands.

Sanitation: About 30 per cent of Honiara is connected to a conventional gravity sewerage system managed by the Solomon Islands Water Authority. The rest
use on-site treatment such as septic tanks, or no treatment at all. Census figures for type of toilet facilities
indicate that about 18 per cent use pit latrines, ‘oth-er,’ or ‘none.’ The existing system is inadequate andcontributes to coastal and groundwater pollution. The
sewerage system has 16 outfalls discharging directly
into the Mataniko River and the sea (See Figure 6). The
sewer lines are old, overloaded, and in poor condition.

5

Solomon Islands Census 2009

6

Sustainable Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management in Pacific Island Countries. (November 2007). National Integrated Water Resource Management

Diagnostic Report. Draft SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 645.

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

09

Figure 6: Sewerage System Susceptibility to Floods and Storm Surge
Rove Outfall
Mbua Valley
Outfall

Point Cruz
OutfallKVI Outfall

Kukum / Bahai

Naha / Vura
Outfall
RanadiOutfall

Outfall

Central Hospital
Outfall

Town Boundry
Varacreek
Outfall
Tuvaruhu
OutfallN
2 Km

Central Hospital

Naha

Tuvaruhu

Flood prone area

KGVI

Point Cruz

Vara Creek

Kukum

Ranadi

Vura

Storm surge/ Coastal
surge/ Sea level rise

Mbua Valley

Rove

Source: Designed by UN-Habitat based on a map made by Brian Pitakia, National Geographic Information Centre, Solomon Islands.

Energy: The Solomon Islands Electricity Authority
provides the power supply for about 64 per cent ofhouseholds in Honiara 7. The Lungga Power station
supplies Honiara’s power supply with the support ofa smaller station inside central Honiara.There is sufficient power capacity (of over 20MW) to meet thepeak load in the city of 14MW on business days, butthere is no reserve capacity. If one generator is out ofservice, load shedding has to take place, resulting inblackouts throughout the city
The biggest challenges in the power sector are a) weakutility resulting in low efficiency; and b) dependenceon high cost diesel-fired electricity generation. Honiara’s power is 100 per cent diesel-based 8 and about 80
per cent of the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority’s
operational costs are consumed by diesel fuel. All fuelhas to be imported, amounting to 28 to 30 per cent of

the country’s total imports. The Solomon Islands havesome of the highest electricity commodity prices in
the world 9. In the past, cyclones have brought down
power lines, resulting in extended power outages. As
it is projected that tropical cyclones would be stronger
and more intense due to climate change, the powersystem for Honiara is likely to be impacted.
Residential Buildings: In Honiara and other urban/
rural centres, the most common form of housing issingle story timber frame construction (46 per cent);
7 per cent of surveyed houses are of traditional construction, and 6 per cent are of poor construction.
Buildings with traditional and poor construction are
more likely to be sensitive to damage from climatechange effects such as strong wind, storm surge, andflooding.

7

Solomon Islands Census 20098

World Bank. (2006). Project Information Document Concept Stage: Solomon Islands Sustainable Energy Project.

9

Energy Profile Solomon Islands. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2012, from www.reegle.info: http://www.reegle.info/countries/solomon-islands-energy-profile/SB

10

Cities and Climate Change Initiative3.3.3 Economic Systems

phoons and floods also affects businesses and offices.

The Solomon Islands economy is susceptible to shocks
from climate-related disasters due to extreme events.
Based on historical and recent news accounts, economic losses from disasters usually stem from impacts
on agriculture. During Cyclone Namu, oil palm, rice,cocoa and coconut plantations were severely damaged.

Tourism: The vulnerability to climate change of the
tourism and hospitality industry is connected to thesusceptibility of transport links, accommodation facilities, and tourist sites to climate hazards.

Service Sector: Honiara’s economic base is dominated by the service sector, as the city is Solomon Islands’
main commercial and administrative centre. The service sector in Honiara is at sensitive mainly due to thelocation of commercial activities on the coastal strip,
which is vulnerable to storm surges and flash floods.
Trade is also heavily dependent on transportation links
which are exposed to extreme events. The sensitivityof power and water systems to disruptions from ty-

Agriculture and Fisheries: There are no large agricultural areas or commercial plantations within Honiara. But there are small-scale efforts by households
who grow crops in backyard gardens, raise livestock,or fish. Climate change has been affecting agricultural
productivity. Households engaged in agricultural activities have been adapting to reduced productivity byfinding alternative sources of income, such as selling
firewood from scrap logs. Families are also shifting tomore service-oriented livelihoods. As Honiara urbanizes, it is likely that this trend will continue.

Table 3: Solomon Islands Production Value of Key Crops, 2009

Crop

BananaCassava

Production
Value ($)

Cocoa

Coconut

Oil Palm

3,280,000 24,961,000 11,807,000

Rice

Sweet
PotatoTaroYam577,000

8,642,000

4,532,000

6,457,000

Production(Tons)

330

2,500

4,259

276,000

39,0002,800

86,00044,00032,000Area
Harvested (Ha)

110

150

9,600

37,00011,000

1,000

6,000

2,200

1,400

Yield
(Hg per Ha)

30,000166,666

4,406

74,594

170,909

28,000143,333

200,000

228,571

3,575

21,352

19,745

ExportValue ($)

5,591,000

6,542,000

13,974,000

Unit Value($ per Ton)

1,665

306

708

Quantity
Exported (Tons)

Source: UN-Habitat

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

113.3.4 Social Systems and Culture
The social conditions of the people in Honiara are critical factors in their sensitivity to climate change impacts, as they influence how people are able to adapt
to changes and develop responses and action plans.
Population Density and Urban Growth:Honiara has
an average population density of 28 persons per hect-are. The densest wards are Kukum (56/ha.), Mataniko (53/ha), and Vavaea and Naha (47/ha.).There areneighbourhoods within these wards that may be four
to five times the average density, as households tend
to cluster together depending on topography andavailable land. Increasing population densities, particularly in hazard-prone areas, increases exposure to
impacts. As less land is available, newcomers may beforced to settle in less than ideal places.

Figure 7: Location of Households (Census 2009)

Vuhokesa

Naha
Lungga River

NggosiMbumburu
Nggosi

Kukum

Cruz

Panatina

Rove
Lengakiki
Vura
Kola’aMataniko

N

Households
2 Km

Honiara Ward Boundary

Source: Designed by UN-Habitat based on a map made by Samson Kanamoli, National Geographic Information Centre, Solomon Islands.

Poverty: About 32.2 per cent of the population in
Honiara falls below the Basic Needs Poverty Line ascomputed by a UNDP study analyzing the 2005/2006
Household Income and Expenditure Survey. The poorin Honiara are more likely to be affected by primary and secondary impacts of climate-related hazards.
Their limited spending capacity makes them less able

12

to cope with rising prices of food and other commodities due to supply disruptions caused by climate-related disturbances. Furthermore, poor households in
Honiara are likely to be located in informal settlement
areas, some of which are situated in hazard-prone andecologically sensitive areas such as coastal deltas, riverfloodplains, and steeply sloping hills.

Cities and Climate Change InitiativeLand Tenure and Informal Settlements: Approximately 35 per cent of Honiara residents (about 3,000
households or approximately 22,000 persons) live in
35 informal settlements within the city 10 11. Most informal settlements are located on the periphery of thecity, with some already encroaching on customary landoutside the city boundary. These informal settlements
are vulnerable to climate change impacts because they

are unplanned and often lack adequate facilities andservices such as footpaths, power, sanitation, water,and garbage collection. Newer settlements are likely to be more vulnerable because these have mostly
temporary or semi-permanent structures, and are built
on land with steep slopes or on low-lying coastal andriverine areas prone to natural hazards.

Figure 8: Unauthorized Settlement Areas - Survey Zones

Iron Bottom Sound

Honiara City

Guadalcanal Province

N

Survey Zones

Registered Land

Unoccupied Government Land

Honiara City Boundary

Source: Designed by UN-Habitat based on a map made by the Department of Planning, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey, Solomon
Islands.

During the 1960s, the pre-independence administration tried to deal with settlers by issuing them temporary occupation licenses. The government also
designated Temporary Housing Areas within which
temporary occupations licenses may be granted 12. As
the number of settlers grew, successive governments
stated that they would convert the temporary occupations licenses into a more secure form of tenure.
But as the Solomon Islands economy grew and more

10people moved to urban areas looking for job opportunities, the governments stopped issuing the temporary occupations licenses. This made the policy issue oftenure conversion even more difficult, as most settlers
do not have valid or even lapsed temporary occupations licenses 13.

Likaveke, S. (2012). Honiara Participatory Slum Upgrading Inception Report.

11

UN-Habitat. (2012). Honiara Urban Profile.

12

Likaveke, S. (2012). Honiara Participatory Slum Upgrading Inception Report.

13

Chand, S., & Yala, C. (2008). Volume 2, Chapter 5: Informal Land Settlements Within Honiara and Port Moresby. In Making Land Work. AusAID.

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

13

A survey in 2005 showed that fewer than half of thesettlers ever held a temporary occupations license andonly two per cent held a valid (up-to-date) temporary
operation license. This partly explains why access towater and power is constrained in informal settlements, as a valid temporary occupations license is aprerequisite for the Solomon Islands Water Authority
and the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority to connect their services.

river or stream (10 per cent), and bury (8 per cent).
Improper waste management contributes to environmental pollution and the clogging of waterways, creating conditions that can be further exacerbated byclimate change impacts.

Water and Sanitation: According to the 2009 Census, about 75 per cent of households in Honiara obtain drinking water from Solomon Islands Water Authority; the other 25 per cent use alternative sourcesof water for drinking such as household tanks, rivers/
streams, communal standpipes, unprotected wells,
and communal tanks. About 54 per cent use private
flush toilets while the other 46 per cent use shared
flush toilets, such as private/ shared water sealed toilets, and private/ shared pit latrines.
Climate change impacts in the city would affect people’s access to water, especially those sourcing it fromrainwater tanks, rivers/ streams, and wells - in theevent of drought or extended dry periods, water levels
would recede while in longer rain periods water would
be more prone to contamination due to increase water run-off. Although there are no published reportsof groundwater sources being affected by salt water intrusion (most sources in Honiara are located inhigher elevations), coastal erosion and storm surges
exacerbated by sea level rise are reportedly damaging
water supply lines located near the coast.
Power: About 64 per cent of households in Honiara
are connected to grid supply from the Electricity Authority. Most households without electricity use kerosene lamps for lighting. Even with electricity, however,about 53 per cent of households still use wood/ coconut shells for cooking, while about 37 per cent use
gas. Electricity use for cooking accounts for only about
4 per cent 14.
Waste Management: About 36 per cent of households in Honiara dispose of their rubbish through government waste collection. Others burn (23 per cent),
dispose in their backyard (17 per cent), dispose in the

14

Solomon Islands Census 200915

Solomon Islands Census 200916

Solomon Islands Census 2009.

14

Solid waste management collection point
Photo © UN Habitat / Bernhard Barth

Health: There are no studies in the Solomon Islands
that link health and climate change as indicated by anincrease in disease incidence. However, the people inthe city are exposed to vector-borne and water-borne
diseases, such as malaria and diarrhea, that can easily
be exacerbated by climate change impacts.
Education and knowledge on climate change:
Among the population in the city aged 12 and older,about 40 per cent have completed primary education,
35 per cent secondary education, and 13 per cent tertiary education. Six per cent have no completed schoolat all 15. Consultations with communities reveal thatpeople tend to have a good understanding of weather
patterns, and natural hazards and their impacts. Some
communities have retained traditional ways of predicting the weather. They also understand how increasing
development can contribute to environmental degradation and can exacerbate impacts.
Social Capital: While urbanization tends to undermine these traditional structures, there are indications
that strong social networks still exist in Honiara. The
city has the largest average household size in the
country, indicating that people often take on relatives
into their abode when housing is not available. But

Cities and Climate Change Initiativedespite these strong social networks, there is a lack ofinclusionary and collective action/cooperation among
the government, community leaders, and other stakeholders in disaster risk preparedness and other measures towards building risk resilient communities.
Children and youth: Children less than 15 years ofage constitute 34 per cent of the population in Honiara, while the youth (15 to 24 years old) constitute 24
per cent. Together they make up 58 per cent of the
population 16. This is termed as a “youth bulge.”
Many of the youth come from the provinces and are insearch of jobs in Honiara, but the labour market in Honiara is unable to absorb the rapidly expanding youth
population, leading to high levels of unemployment.
High urban underemployment makes the youth population less able to cope with climate change impacts
due to lack of income 17. To help address this problem,
the Government of Solomon Islands together with theWorld Bank introduced the Rapid Employment Project.
Started in 2010, the project aims to provide training
and work opportunities for vulnerable communities in
Honiara, including youth.

3.4 Adaptive Capacity
In a city consultation workshop held on November
28 2012, participants were asked the following questions:(1) What should be present in the Honiara City Council
so that natural disasters are avoided?
(2) If and when disaster strikes, what do families, communities and organizations need to recover and build
back?
Answers to (2) reveal that there is growing awarenessand knowledge in the city government of climatechange and its impacts. But the City Council admits it
lacks technical capacity and the resources to respond.
Answers to (1) reveal that basic necessities and thecommunity unit are important for families; for communities and organizations, a higher level of technicaland financial capacity to plan and assist/ implement
projects is needed.

Figure 9: Adaptive Capacity Definition

ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

Autonomous

Collective

Institutional

Adaptation that does not

Capacity/actions emanating

Capacity of organizational

constitute a conscious

from groups or collective

systems. Might be policies,

response to climatic stimuli,

action.

regulations, human resourc-

but rather is triggered byes, technology.

ecological changes innatural systems and bymarket or welfare changes
in human systems. Also
referred to as spontaneous
adaptation.

Source: UN-Habitat

17

Noble, C., Pereira, N., & Saune, N. (2011). Chapter 6: Honiara, Solomon Islands. In Urban youth in the Pacific: increasing resilience and reducing risk for involvement incrime. Suva, Fiji: UNDP Pacific Centre: PIFS.

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

15

3.4.1 Autonomous Adaptation
Autonomous adaptation is defined as adaptation that
does not constitute a conscious response to climatic
stimuli, but rather is triggered by ecological changes
in natural systems and by market or welfare changes

in human systems. It is also referred to as spontaneous
adaptation. Basic necessities (money, food, shelter,
clothing) and access to essential services were identified in the city consultation as needed by families toadapt.

Table 4: Indicators on Basic Necessities and Services

Indicator

FigureAccess to basic necessities

Percent below Basic Needs Poverty Line32%

Access to water

Percent covered by piped water

75%

Access to sanitation

Percent with private flush toilets

54%

Access to power

Percent covered by electricity supply

64%

Access to waste disposal

Percent covered by government waste disposal

36%

Source: UN-Habitat

The data above indicates that about 30 to 40 per centof the population in Honiara will have difficulty adapting due to lack of basic necessities and services. Basedon field observations, community focal group discussions, and census data, families adapt to the lack ofthese through the following measures:

Table 5: Autonomous Adaptation Measures to Lack of Basic Necessities and Services

Autonomous Adaptation Measures
Lack of access to basic
necessities- Diversifying income sources- Women seek additional sources of income through employment or selling goods- Fuel collection- Gardening, livestock-raising- Change in diet (rice-based)

Lack of access to water

Sourcing from local springs and streams, rainwater collection, sharing with otherhouseholds

Lack of access to sanitation

Toilets over water, shared toilets, use of streams and sea

Lack of access to power

Kerosene lamps, solar, own generators

16

Cities and Climate Change Initiative

Lack of access to waste disposal

Dumping on streams or sea, burying, burning

Flooding

Houses on stilts, livestock pens on stilts, evacuation to higher areas

Storm surge

Houses on stilts, evacuation to higher areas (including boats and nets)

Cyclone winds

Stronger construction (concrete and wooden houses, tin roofs)

Coastal erosion

Self-reclamation and self-built sea walls from coral/ gravel, movement inward ortransfer to higher ground, gabions (usually for commercial developments)

Source: UN-Habitat

3.4.2 Collective Adaptation

3.4.3 Institutional Adaptation

Collective adaptation is defined as capacity/actions
emanating from groups or collective action. The city
adaptive capacity assessment identified that there arenotable community/ neighbourhood leaders such as
chiefs, elders, teacher’s and women’s groups who
can quickly organize people in the event of a hazard
occurrence. The Ward Development Committee andcouncillors were also identified as being community/neighbourhood leaders.

National Level

In the city, women account for 47 per cent of the total population. Generally, women are more vulnerable
to climate variability and disasters than men because
they have less access to resources, are victims of gendered division of labour and are the primary caregivers
to children, the elderly and the disabled even during
disaster events.
Community-based women’s groups are key assetsthat hold the potential for strengthening the role ofwomen in developing resiliency to climate change.
The National Women’s Policy has provided a positive
basis for systematic action by promoting linkages
between women and women’s groups, spelling out
different roles and functions for the various groupings, and identifying priority objectives for women’sdevelopment 18. These are possible frameworks andmechanisms for involving women and making them
key actors in promoting climate change resiliency.

18

Climate change policy: Assessments, policies, andplans are in place for climate change action at the national level. In the past 10 years, the Solomon Islands
Government has taken significant steps to begin implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation
actions. These include:• National Adaptation Programme of Action• Solomon Islands Second National Communication to
the UNFCCC• National Disaster Management Strategy and a Renewable Energy Framework• Solomon Islands National Development Strategy:
2011-2020• National Climate Change Policy for 2012 to 2017
The National Climate Change Policy for 2012 to 2017provides a national strategic framework for the country to address the challenges that climate change
brings. The Climate Change Division of the Ministry ofEnvironment is the lead government agency tasked tolead, guide and coordinate national programmes andactions addressing climate change.
The policy also provides for the establishment of a National Climate Change Council to oversee the implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluationof national climate change policies and strategies,
and a Climate Change Working Group to provide inter-agency and inter-stakeholder coordination for the
implementation of the policy.

Pollard, A. A. (2003). Women’s organizations, voluntarism, and self-financing in Solomon Islands: a participant perspective. Oceania .

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

17

Figure 10: Institutional Arrangements for the Implementation of the Climate Change Policy

NATIONAL PARLIAMENT

Parliamentary Standing Committee
on Environment and Climate Change

CabinetNational Climate Change Council

MECDM (Lead Agency)

Government Ministries

National Climate Change Working
Group
Thematic Working Group
Working Group

Provincial Governments

Private Sectors, NGO’s,
Institutions, Churches

Provincial Government Coordinating
BodiesCommunities

Source: UN-Habitat

Disaster risk management policy: The National Disaster Risk Management Plan 2010 provides for theestablishment of institutional arrangements for theSolomon Islands Government to address disaster risk
management within the country. It includes both disaster management arrangements for preparing for,managing, and recovering from disaster events andinstitutional mechanisms for addressing disaster risk
reduction, including climate change adaptation. Arrangements are addressed at the national, provincial,and local levels. Figure 11 below details the overall
institutional framework.
The National Disaster Council is the strategic decision
making body for committing resources and priorities
and advising cabinet during a disaster. It is also responsible for the overview of disaster events and the
management of international, regional, and bilateralsupport arrangements for disaster risk management.
The national disaster management office (National

18

Disaster Management Office) functions as the secretariat of the council and is responsible for the coordination, development, and implementation of disasterrisk management. Provincial/municipal governments
such as Honiara are required to establish the provincial/ municipal disaster committees as well as ward
and local arrangements for disaster management
and risk reduction. Each provincial/ municipal disastercommittee is supposed to prepare their own disasterrisk management plan.
Village Disaster Risk Committees are to be establishedat the village level, associated settlement level or
where appropriate. Villages, families, and individuals
within a Village Disaster Risk committee provide disaster planning including local arrangements for early warning, managing response to disasters, and for
addressing hazard and risk reduction issues (including
climate change).

Cities and Climate Change InitiativeFigure 11: Institutional Framework for Disaster Risk Management

INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL

Planning
Operations

NATIONAL

International Regional
Bi-lateral
Arrangements

CabinetPROVINCIAL MUNICIPAL

Municipal
Council

Accountable Minister

Provincial
Assembly

Planning

Planning

Reporting

ReportingInternational Regional
Bi-lateralSupportNational
DisasterCouncil
Chair : PS for DRM

NDC
Committees
Municipal
DisasterCommittee

Provincial
DisasterCommittee

Chair : City Clerk

Chair : Prov Sec

DM Arrangements & N-DOC – Dir. NDMO
Hazards – PS ECM
Recovery & Rehab & RCC – PSDPAC
Risk Reduction – PS Lands

MDC /PDC sub Committees
DRM Arrangements & P-DOC – Deputy
Provision Sec
Recovery & Rehabilitation – Prov Sec

Response
Clusters

SupportClusters

Recovery
Clusters

Sectors

Sectors

Sectors

NGO’s

NGO’s

NGO’s
DonorsCOMMUNITY VILLAGE
Ward & Village
Disaster Risk
Committees

Ward & Village
Disaster Risk
Committees

Ward & Village
Disaster Risk
Committees

Chair – Local/
Tradional Leader

Chair – Local/
Tradional Leader

Chair – Local/
Tradional Leader

Source: UN-Habitat

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

19

Climate Change Initiatives by National
Ministries: Various ministries have begun to implement climate-change related projects via externalfunding from various resources. The table below lists
some of these ongoing projects:

Table 6: Climate Change Related Projects by National Ministries

Ministry
Ministry of Environment,
Climate Change Metereology, and Disaster Management

Initiatives/ Projects

Partners

Mapping of land and forest cover on Geographic

UNDP, Pacific Islands Applied GeoSci-

Iinformation Systems to monitor climate change

ence Commission, Ministry of Agricul-

and land use on the islands, through the projectture and Livestock“Strengthening Environment Management andReducing the Impact of Climate Change ”.

Ministry of Lands, Housing
and Survey

Honiara ward profiling incorporating climate

UN- Habitat, Honiara City Council

change.Honiara climate change vulnerability andadaptation assessment

Ministry of Infrastructure
Development

Incorporating climate change considerations in its

Asian Development Bank, Governments

projects since 2008. New roads and bridges underof Australia and New Zealandthe Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project are
now designed to consider risks.

Ministry of Agriculture andLivestock Development

Planning promotion of urban gardening in Honiara,

UNDP, Ministry of Environment, Climate

under the “Strongem Waka lo Communiti fo

Change, Disaster Management andKaikai” project, which aims to strengthen the

Meteorology

ability of communities in Solomon Islands to makeinformed decisions and manage likely climatechange driven pressures on food production andmanagement systems.

Ministry of Aid Planningand Coordination

Prioritization of investment projects with climate

Asian Development Bankchange as criteria. Includes projects in Honiara

Source: UN-Habitat

Honiara City Council
The city goverment, as the provider of policies, framework, and services that facilitate functionality in local
systems and process in time of economic and natural
distress, is deemed to be the core of the overall adaptive capacity of the city. The Honiara City Council has
limited jurisdiction in some priority sectors for climate

20

change action, where national government ministries
are taking the lead. There are however some key areas
where it already plays or can play a significant role,such as land use planning and regulation, businessregulation, construction and maintenance of feeder
roads and small infrastructure, waste management,
promotion of health and sanitation, and public information and education.

Cities and Climate Change Initiative

Table 7: National Adaptation Programmes of Action Priorities and Ministries/ Honiara City Council Departments with Relevant Mandates

National Adaptation
Programmes of Action
Priorities

Ministries/ Honiara City
Council Departments with
relevant mandates(as outlined in the National Climate
Change Policy)
Increase the resilience of food production

Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of food security and agriculture-related

and enhance food security to the impacts ofprojects. The City Council had a role in the former Supsup Garden pro-climate change and sea-level risegramme funded by UNICEF.

Increase the resilience of water resources

Water resources management is under the Ministry of Mines and Energy andmanagement to the impacts of climate change

Solomon Islands Water Authority. However regulation of land use aroundand sea-level risecatchment areas within Honiara is within the City Council’s jurisdiction.

Improve the capacity for managing the im-

Planning and regulation of settlements within Honiara is within Honiara City

pacts of climate change and sea-level rise on

Council jurisdiction with support from the Ministry of Land, Housing andhuman settlements

Survey.

Increase the capacity of health professionals

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is in charge of fielding healthto address adverse impacts of climate on

professionals with the City Department of Health and Medical Services sup-human healthporting the implementation of ministry programmes.

Promote climate change education, awareness

The Ministry of Education is in charge of schools supported by the Honiara

and information dissemination

City Council Department of Education. There is no office in the City Council
dedicated to public information. According to the 2012 National Disaster
Risk Management plan, responsibility for public awareness and training iswith the Disaster Management Arrangements Committee chaired by the
National Disaster Managemet Orgaisation, while making hazard information available is the responsibility of the Hazards Committee chaired by the
Ministry of Mines. The Municipal Disaster Committee, when formed, should
also have its own Disaster Management Arrangements sub-committee withthe same mandate.

Better manage impacts of climate change on

Honiara City Council is in charge of waste management, but this functionwaste management

has been outsourced and not monitored adequately. There is no national orcity policy yet on waste management.

Increase the resilience and enhance thePlanning and regulation of settlements is within Honiara City Council juris-

adaptive capacity of coastal communities,

diction with the support of Ministry of Land Housing and Survey, but majorsocio-economic activities and infrastructure

infrastructure is within the Ministry of Infrastructure Development. Smaller
infrastructure is under the Honiara City Council Department of Works.

Improve the understanding of the effects

Fisheries is under the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

of climate change and climate variability,
including El Nino-Southern Oscillation, on theinshore and tuna fishery resources

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

21

Climate proofing of key infrastructure to risks

Key infrastructure is within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Infrastructure

including sea-level rise.

and Development.

Integrate climate change adaptation strategies

Tourism is under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. There is no dedicatedand measures into tourism planning and devel-

office within HCC for tourism. Business establishments including hotels,

opment.

etc. are regulated by the city.

Source: UN-Habitat

By looking closely into the institutional structure of the
Honiara City Council, the key and critical departments
ready to be partnered with relative to climate change
adaptation and mitigation actions are the following:

Table 8: Key Honiara City Council Departments Relative to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Department

Health and Medical Services

Goals (HCC Corporate
Plan, 2010 – 2012)

This department aims to provide a range of services to promote and improve the healthand quality of life of the people of Honiara. Its specific goals under the Honiara City
Council Corporate Plan are:
- To provide functional and effective Health Clinics;- To reduce the incidence of malaria in the city;- To ensure a healthy environment within the city;- To improve community education in health related issues;- To develop a strategy for public toilets throughout the city;- To support the establishment of additional hospital and medical facilities/ services within the city, especially to cater to the needs of women and children.

Physical Planning andBuilding Services

This department aims to ensure physical development is provided in a manner conducive to the welfare of the people who live and work in Honiara, while enhancing and/or protecting the physical, natural and cultural environment. It also regulates the safety
and amenity of buildings within the city through compliance with the Council Building
Ordinance and the Honiara Planning Scheme 2008. Its specific goals under the Honiara
City Council Corporate Plan are:- Ensure all new buildings in Honiara City have a Council approved building permit;- Ensure Honiara is an effectively planned city;- Provide support to the operation of the Town and Country Planning Board in ensuring
all developments are in compliance with the Honiara Planning Scheme;- To continue to improve the performance and standards of the Honiara City Councilbuilding and planning regulation by review of relevant legislation, ordinances, systems,
procedures, and resources.

22

Cities and Climate Change InitiativeWorksThis department aims to deliver a high quality range of services and infrastructure to thecommunity and to the council. Its specific goals under the Honiara City Council Corporate Plan are:Upgrade remaining health clinics;
Improve the standard of council buildings and infrastructure;
Improve the physical image of the city;
Continue to improve waste management practices;
Recognize the need to provide a range of services to all sectors of the community (business, government, residential) and to all geographical areas of the city.

Youth, Sport and Women’s
Affairs

This department aims to engage with youth and women to facilitate their greater andmore equitable participation in the community. Its specific goals under the Honiara City
Council Corporate Plan are:
To proactively work with youth and women’s groups to enhance participation;
Engage with other stakeholders to form a whole of city strategy on youth and women’saffairs.

Source: UN-Habitat

Honiara City Council Implementation of Climate
Change and Disaster Risk Management Plans:Oneof the policy directives in the National Climate Change
Policy is to undertake risk reduction and vulnerability assessments of urban settlements in Honiara. Thisvulnerability and adaptation assessment is part of Honiara City Council’s effort to implement this directive.

Apart from this vulnerability and adaptation assessment, the Honiara City Council has made no explicit
efforts yet to implement the national climate change
policy, as the national plan is also yet to have a clear
programme and funding apart from externally funded
projects implemented by specific ministries.

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

23

04
Vulnerable People, Places
and Sectors
This section profiles four selected climate change
hotspots based on community focal group discussions,census data and rapid assessment. This profiling aims
to validate climate change projections and its impact
on the people, places, and systems within the selected areas. It indicates how the community has adapted

to these changes/ impacts and what they think theyneed so they can adapt in the future. The criteria for
selecting these four hotspots were hazard exposure,
population vulnerability, and type of ecosystem. These
profiles should be considered as an initial snapshot of
the community situation subject to further validationand study.

Table 9: List of Profiled Hotspots

Community

Ward and Location

Ecosystem

Koa Hill

Vavaea Ward (beside Mataniko River)River floodplain/ ridge/valley

Kukum Fishing Village

Vura Ward (coastal beside Kukum Highway)

Coastal plain

Lord Howe Settlement

Mataniko Ward (beside the river and coast/ Mataniko delta)

River delta

Matariu and Jericho

Kola’a Ward

Ridge and valley

Source: UN-Habitat
Figure 12: Map of Profiled Hotspots

Lord Howe Settlement

Kukum Fishing Village

Koa Hill
Matariu & JerichoN

Hotspots

Source: Base map from Google Maps

24

Cities and Climate Change Initiative4.1 Koa Hill

Exposure and Sensitivity

Koa Hill is part of the watershed of Mataniko River andVavaea Ward. It is a low-lying area prone to flooding,one of the most densely populated areas in the city,and it is also an informal settlement. According to
the 2009 Census, Koa Hill has 1,166 people, with 601
men and 565 women. It has an area of approximately
16 hectares with a population density of 71 persons
per hectare. The census data also shows that livelihoods are mainly urban-based/ service-oriented.

The low-lying area of Koa Hill is prone to flooding,while the steep slopes are prone to soil erosion. According to community focal group discussions, flooding usually occurs during the following instances: 1)
when tide is very high, water will flow back throughsmaller creeks and drains; 2) a combination of somerain and high tide; 3) intense rainfall upstream; and 4)
intense rainfall on site lasting from half a day to three
days.

Table 10: Koa Hill Summary

Access and key
community facilities

Housing

Access to Waterand Sanitation

People either walk down

Mostly houses on

75 % use shared pipes for

75 % do not have

Government trucks can-through steep foot trails

stilts. (some near thewashing water.

power, using kero-not come in and collectfrom the main road on thewater’s edge)

sene lamps

waste.

21 % have electricity

60 % dump their waste

connection

into the river/ stream

share one toilet.

3% use solar.

26 % burn them

Toilet outfalls into open

Services such as water

14 % either bury or

drainage.

and power cannot

dump the waste in theircome in because

backyard.

ridge or cross the Matan-

Power

Waste disposal

43 % use shared water

iko River via makeshift

Sago palm found isfloating rafts

used by some to build
houses.

sealed toilets.
10 to 20 households

Bathing and kitchen grey

most not registeredwater directly into open

temporary occupation

drainage canals.

license holders

Waste from pig pensdirectly into the open
drainage.
Source: UN-Habitat

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

25

Figure 13: Flood Prone Area of Koa Hill

Flood Prone Area
Up To 2.5m

Soil Erosion& Surface Runoff

Source: Satellite map from Google Maps

4.2 Fishing Village

The coastline exhibits signs of coastal erosion fromprevious storm surges, wave action, and sea level rise.

Fishing Village is a community living on the coastline
just beside the Kukum Highway east of Honiara. It is
located in Vura Ward, with an area of about 4 hectares
and a population of 463 with 227 men and 236 women. It has a density of 115 persons per hectare and an
average household size of eight 19. The Fishing Village
is exposed to storm surges and sea level rise, as well assome flooding from the surface runoff from the hills.

Traditionally the village depended on fishing for livelihood, but census figures show that households maybe
shifting to other sources of income. Among those in
the labour force, 32 per cent produce goods for sale,16 per cent work for the private sector, 10 per cent are
self-employed, 6 per cent do unpaid family work and4 per cent work for the government.

Figure 14: Fishing Village Location and Hazards

Sea Level Rise
Cyclone winds
Storm surge

Surface Run Off

Source: Base map from Google Maps

19

Solomon Islands Census 2009

26

Cities and Climate Change Initiative

Table 11: Fishing Village Summary

Access and key
community facilities

Land Tenureand Housing

Easily accessible

Easily accessible

Hosts the Fishing Village

Hosts the FishingmarketVillage market

Access to Waterand Sanitation

Power

Waste disposal

Most of the houses are con-72% have power

More than half ofnected to Water Authority

24 % still use

the households havekerosene lamps

their waste collected

74 % use piped private con-by government waste

nections for washingcollectors

24 % shared connections

36 % dispose of theirgarbage in the sea.

59 % shared water sealed
toilets
26 % flush private toilets
Source: UN-Habitat

Exposure and Sensitivity
Storm surges have had the most impact in the area.
The worst damage was during cyclone Glenda in
1967, when the whole village was destroyed. After1967 cyclone shelters were built uphill; eventuallythese shelters became a formal subdivision and a logical extension of the village.
Sea level observations: Focal group discussion participants observed that the sea at the edge of the reefin front of the village has become shallower than before due to the deposition of corals by cyclones andsilt from floods. They also observed that the coastline
has been receding.

Food security: According to the community focalgroup discussions, one of the significant issues forthem is the depletion of fish catch. Inadequate income
from fishing affects their food security, since they are
now more dependent on the market compared to before. Sourcing food in a market system is challenging
due to increasing prices.

4.3 Lord Howe Settlement
The Lord Howe Settlement is located at the delta of
the Mataniko River and is part of Mataniko Ward. It

Drainage canal (Left) serving as toilet outfall and connecting to a larger creek(Right) which flows out to the Mataniko River, Taken November 2012
© UN Habitat / Amillah Rodil

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment27

has an area of 2.8 hectares with a population of 631- 295 men and 336 women. It has a population density of 223 persons per hectare, the highest among
the hotspots studied. It has 76 households with anaverage household size of 8. Among the labour force(12+), 41 per cent do unpaid family work, 19 percent are employed by private employers, 9 per centare employed by the government, and 9 per centproduce goods for sale.

Table 12: Lord Howe Summary

Access and key
community facilities

Settlement
pattern

Housing

Water and
Sanitation

Waste
disposalPower

Bounded by the Matan-

Most tightly packed

Mixed construc-

57 % get drinking water

Almost all the

74 % are con-

iko River on the west, awith houses spacedtion: some havefrom a communal tank,households in thenected to thecreek on the south, theclosely together

concrete posts,

suggesting rainwater use

area throw theirpower grid

waste into theand use it assea.

main source

National Referral Hospi-

wooden walls,

tal on the east, and theSettlement has

and tin roofs

20 per cent get it fromsea on the northencroached intowith sturdy con-the Solomon Islands

the property of thestruction, while

Water Authority

National Referral

some are more

HospitalmakeshiftThree main access pointsof lighting

Washing water is done
mainly through pipedwater (50 per cent private, 49 per cent shared)
75 % say they have no
toilets
Sea is likely used for
those who have no
toilets.

Source: UN-Habitat

Exposure and impacts
The Lord Howe Settlement is exposed to storm surges,
sea level rise, coastal erosion, and flooding. Flooding
occurs in the area because of a number of factors:
overflow from the river and creek, storm surges, surface runoff from higher areas, and high tide whichhinders the water from flowing out. Flooding impacts
on the community include increased difficulty in access (mainly because of creek overflow), muddy areas,

28

worsening sanitation, and skin diseases. Fishermenalso say that it makes fishing difficult because visibility
is affected.
The coastline in the area is receding due to a combination of wave action, storm surges and sea level rise.
The houses have also been moved in response to thereceding coastline. With no more space to expand,the settlement is being hemmed inward.

Cities and Climate Change InitiativeFigure 15: Flood Prone Area, Lord Howe Settlement

Storm surge/ highFlooding up to 1m

Creek overflow

River ﬂow

Surface runoff

Source: Satellite map from Google Maps

4.4 Matariu and Jericho
Matariu and Jericho are located in Kola’a ward, andare two among the designated temporary occupation license areas/ informal settlement areas in thecity where unemployment is high and access to basic
services is constrained. Kola’a ward is second among
the wards with the highest number of unemployedpeople (about 1,500 in the 2009 census). It was chosen mainly due to the availability of a connection withthe community leaders. Thus this case should be seen
more as an example of a typical temporary occupaltion license area in the hills rather than the most vulnerable area.

Exposure and sensitivity
The community is not exposed to major riverine flooding, but experiences minor flooding from streams.
High temperatures, extreme rainfall, and cyclone
winds also affect the community. Residents recall
that during Cyclone Namu, roofs of leaf houses were
blown off and some trees were uprooted. The area experiences less rainfall than before, but when it rains, it
is extreme. Heavy rainfall causes streams to overflow.
Based on community observation, the flood level inthe creeks has been getting higher. They attribute thisto the increase in the number of people living in thearea, dwindling vegetation, increase in surface runoff
and erosion. Since the streams cut through the site,
they inevitably inundate shallow crossings and cut off

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

29

access to other areas for a few hours.
According to the community focal group discussions,common health problems in the area include malaria,
diarrhea, and diabetes. The lack of nearby health sta-tions makes it difficult to obtain health services. Residents say they have inadequate food consumption,
consuming mostly rice, noodles, and tea/ coffee. They
associate this diet to the incidence of diabetes.

Table 13: Matariu and Jericho Summary

Access and key
community facilities

Housing

Access to Waterand Sanitation

Through steeply sloping

45% houses in the

70% main source ofGovernment waste

11% are connected tofoot paths from the mainarea are still made ofwater for drinking iscollection is virtually

the grid

road on the ridge

traditional materials

Solomon Islands Waterzero

in their roof

Authority (shared pipes)

Through a dirt road on thevalleyWaste disposal

84% use kerosene
70% burn theirDifferent types:

Washing water-39 %there are houses

used shared pipes

Difficult access is iden-with concrete posts,

tified by the residents

wooden walls, and tin

Streams in the area are

as one of their majorroofs, traditional leaf

also a significant source

problems.

houses, and thoseof watergarbagemade of makeshiftmaterials.

50 % use a private pit
latrine27 % use water sealed
private toilets
13 % use shared pit
latrines

Source: UN-Habitat

30

Power

Cities and Climate Change Initiativelamps for lighting

05
Identifying Key Adaptation
Options
This chapter presents a list of adaptation options thatwere obtained from community focal group discussions and the city consultation.

Adaptation Options from Community and City
Stakeholders

Table 14: Adaptation Options by Sector

SectorInformation/ Education

Community
Ideas

Increase awareness and information on disaster risks andCity Consultation
Ideas

-

climate change

Community Preparation

Community organization/ preparation need to learn-

to work together. For example, working with women’sgroups and local churches on disaster preparedness.

Disaster Preparedness

Evacuation plans and committee to oversee evacuation

Provide evacuation centres

Planning/Land Tenure/
Housing- Resolution of land tenure

Strengthen and enforce development- Physical planning

control- Reblocking- Open space for recreation- Relocation

Livelihood- Livelihood Support

Formulate food security and conserva-- Some families don’t have enough boats/ need more boats

tion policies- Small retailing (e.g. loans for buying and selling of goods)- Fisheries department to create fish aggregating device toattract fish - nearer the coast so fishermen don’t go out
very far.

Water & Sanitation- Access to piped water (SIWA or improved local system)-- Boreholes/ pumps for water- Proper toilets

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

31

Infrastructure

Education- Improvement of access (road/ paths or bridge)

Inventory of infrastructure hotspots;- Proper drainage

identify needed infrastructure for- Seawall

vulnerable areas; formulate climate- River bank and flood protection/ raising the area

resilient infrastructure programmes

Study hall

- Improve quality of buildings andfacilities- Improve/ increase education facilities,
quality education

Agriculture

Land must be fertilized so that more food can be grown

Health- Establish alternative hospital facilitiesin less vulnerable areas- Formulate measures along coastal
areas to minimize impact of erosion
and sea level rise (for hospital)- Provide training for identified communities for pilot projects to address
health issues

Source: UN-Habitat

Table 15: Adaptation Ideas by Location

Location

River, ridge and valley(e.g. Koa Hill)

Community
Ideas- Increase awareness of disaster risk and climate change

City Consultation
Ideas

-

- Community organization/ preparation- Evacuation plans and committee to oversee evacuation- River bank and flood protection/ raising the area
- Open to possible relocation if land is available- Improvement of access (road/ paths or bridge)- Access to piped water (through either the Water Authority
an improved local system)- Proper drainage- Sanitation (proper toilets)- Resolution of land tenure

Ridge and valley (e.g.
Matariu and Jericho)- Physical planning- Formalization of land titles- Better access into the community- Fertilized land for better food production- Boreholes/ pumps for water- Information on climate change

32

Cities and Climate Change Initiative-Coastal (e.g. Kukum
Fishing Village)- Livelihood Support- Establish alternative hospital facilitiesin less vulnerable areas- Some families don’t have enough boats/ need more boats- Small retailing (e.g. loans for buying and selling of goods)- Formulate measures along coastal
areas to minimize impact of erosion- Fisheries department to create fish aggregating device toand sea level rise (for hospital)

attract fish – nearer the coast so fishermen don’t go out
very far.

River delta/ coastal(e.g. Lord Howe Settlement)- Physical planning/ reblocking: present crowded conditions-

need to be addressed with a more organized layout ofhouses- Relocation. Residents understand that reblocking will
likely affect some houses and some might need to be
relocated to add more space.
- Better access. The bridge going to the area gets inundated during flooding events, thus people would like morereliable access to the settlement.
- Proper drainage to help reduce flooding and improve
sanitation;- To avoid flooding, residents suggested raising the groundlevel- Creating a seawall to further protect the coastline from
erosion.
- Community facilities for youth (open space for recreation,volleyball area, study hall).

All locations-- Improve quality of buildings and facilities (education)- Increase education facilities, quality ofeducation- Strengthen and enforce development
control- Provide training for identified communities for pilot project to address
health issues- Formulate food security and conservation policies- Provide evacuation centres- Hire qualified technical people to
do design, plan and construction of
infrastructure services- Inventory of infrastructure hotspots;
identification of needed infrastructure for vulnerable areas; formulate climate resilient infrastructure
programmes

Source: UN-Habitat

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

33

Assessment of Adaptation Options
The table below shows the possible ministries/ city departments who can be in charge of specific adaptation

options and the possible constraints and opportunities
in implementation.

Table 16: Relevant Ministries/ City Departments per Adaptation Option

SectorDisasterPreparedness

Adaptation
Options

Who Can Be
In Charge?

Comments- Disaster preparedness plan &City Disaster Commit-

Further assessment is needed to obtain a

implementationtee, National Disasterbaseline on city preparedness. Indica-- Evacuation plans and committee

Management Office,tions so far are that evacuation is mainly

to oversee evacuation

Ward/ Village Disasterautonomous/ informal and not based on- Evacuation maps displayed inCommittees

government plans; there is already somehazard-prone areaslevel of knowledge of disaster risks, but- Provision of evacuation centres

little on climate change; communities

Increase awareness and informa-

are not yet formally organized. The citytion on disaster risk and climate

disaster risk management plan is current-changely being formulated and should address- Community organization/ prepa-

some of these issues.

ration- Better communication- Better warning system installed

Planning/Land/
Housing- Strengthen and enforce develop-

City Physical Planning

The Planning Scheme needs to be re-ment control

Department, Ministry

viewed and updated so that appropriate- Resolution of land tenureof Lands, Housing anddevelopment controls can be enforced to- Physical planning

Surveyreduce risk.

- Reblocking- Open space for recreation

Lack of land tenure has become a road- Relocation

block for further development, thus
should be resolved first or together withphysical planning and upgrading. If there
are households willing to be relocatedthen relocation plans should be initiatedand available land identified.

Livelihood/ Food
Security- Formulate food security and con-

Ministry of Agriculture

There are planned initiatives for urban

servation policies

and Livestock, Ministry

gardening support under the Ministry- Land must be fertilized so we canof Fisheriesof Agriculture and Livestock; there isgrow more foodopportunity for development/ improve-- Livelihood support for fishermenment of urban gardens in areas where- Some families don’t have enoughphysical planning is going to be done soboats/ need more boats

that space can be allotted.

- Small retailing (e.g. loans for buying and selling of goods)

Further study is needed on the state of- Fisheries department to create fish

fisheries near Honiara, proper support toaggregating device to attract fish

fishermen, and the viability of putting up- nearer the coast so fishermen

fish aggregating devices.

don’t go out very far.

34

Cities and Climate Change InitiativeWater &Sanitation- Access to piped water (the Solomon

Solomon Islands Water

In some areas, land tenure and access

Islands Water Authority or improved

Authority, Works

needs to be resolved so the Solomon

local system)

Department, HealthIslands Water Authority can come in.

- Boreholes/ pumps for waterand Medical Services

Coordination with Physical Planning- Proper toilets

Department

and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and
Survey should be done. In cases where
the Solomon Islands Water Authority is
not able to come in, the improvement oflocal water sources can be considered.
Almost half the households (around
4,000+) in Honiara don’t have private
flush toilets. Addressing this would be amajor undertaking, and resources haveto be put in – for education, construction
and sludge treatment.

Infrastructure- Inventory of infrastructure hotspots;

Ministry of Infrastruc-

The rapid employment project currently- identify needed infrastructure forture and Development,

has small infrastructure projects such

vulnerable areas; formulate climate

Works Department,

as footpaths and Jacob’s ladders. These

resilient infrastructure programmes

Physical Planningneed to be harmonized/ coordinated- Improvement of access (road/ paths

Department, Ministrywith physical plans and access to wateror bridge)of Lands, Housing andand power services.

- Proper drainage

Survey- Seawall

The Ministry of Infrastructure and De-- River bank and flood protection/

velopment is currently concerned withraising the area

infrastructure in the provinces; not muchnew infrastructure is planned within
Honiara. Further study is needed on thenecessity of seawalls/ river bank protection and whether it may be possible toapply “soft” measures rather than hard
infrastructure.

Education- Study halls for communities

Ministry of Educa-

These ideas mainly focus on improving- Improve quality of buildings andtion, Department ofeducation in general, which can contrib-

facilities

Education

ute to adaptive capacity. Education on- Improve/ increase education facilities,

climate change/ disaster risk however canquality of education

also be incorporated into school curriculums so it’s not just a function of national
disaster management office.

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

35

Health- Establish alternative hospital facili-

Ministry of Health,The ideas mainly focus on the relocationties in less vulnerable areas

Health and Medical

or protection of the existing hospital.

- Formulate measures along coastal

Services Department,

Further study needs to be made on theareas to minimize impact of erosion

Ministry of Infrastruc-vulnerability of other health facilities andand sea level rise (for hospital)ture, Works Department

if there are underserved communities- Provide training for identified com-with regards to health services.

munities for pilot project to address
health issue

Health needs to be linked to proper waterand sanitation facilities – health goals canbe achieved if proper water and sanitation is present.

Environment- Preservation & protection measures

Ministry of Environment,

Areas where tree planting and mangrove(tree planting, mangrove, ban

Honiara City Council

protection need be identified. The ban-plastic bags)

ning of plastic bags can be an ordinanceby the Honiara City Council.

Source: UN-Habitat

36

Cities and Climate Change Initiative

06
Recommendations andConclusions
ly being conducted by UN-Habitat, together
with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey. The results of the vulnerability and adaptation assessment (particularly exposureand level of vulnerability) can also be used as
criteria on which areas to prioritize for slum
upgrading. The project can contain a numberof components that can be implemented together with other partners, such as the following:

The following is a summary of recommendations according to the initial objectives of the study:•

The updating/ improvement of the Honiara
City Council Local Planning SchemeoCapacity building and awareness raising for Honiara City Council Local Planning; Board and Department of Physical Planning;
Refinement of hazard maps through further scientific assessment and community validation;
Identification of protected areas/ no-build zones;
Flood overlays with additional regulations;
Coastal and river easements.

o
o
o
o
•

o

o
o
o
o

•

The updating/ improvement of the Honiara
City Council Corporate Plan. The following
should be strengthened and related projects
integrated into the city’s programmes:
Disaster preparedness (baselining, awareness raising, early warning and evacuation plans, emergency response, evacuation facilities, village-level
readiness);
Updating of local planning scheme and physicalplanning especially for vulnerable areas;
Improvement of local water sources and sanitation (toilets);
Small infrastructure (paths, Jacob’s ladders, small
bridges);
Environmental management (protection of existing resources, waste management).
“Participatory Slum Upgrading Project”(Phase 2) ward profiling exercises are current-

o
o
o

o

o

o
o

Resolution of land tenure/ relocation where feasible;
Physical planning and reblocking;
Improvement of access through small infrastructure (paths, Jacob’s ladders, small bridges, drainage);
Improvement of water and sanitation (provisionby the Solomon Islands Water Authority, improvement of local water sources, toilets, wastewater
management);
Protective infrastructure/ environmental management (e.g. river and coastal erosion control, otherdamage mitigation measures);‘Model’ urban gardens;
Livelihood support.

Having a number of components that will be implemented by different departments and government
agencies requires a formal coordination mechanism tobe able to harmonize all these efforts. At the ward
level, it can be the Ward Development Committee
while at the national/ city level it can be an Inter-agency Committee for Slum Upgrading.

Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

37

UN-Habitat’s Cities and Climate Change Initiative promotes enhanced climatechange mitigation and adaptation in developing country cities. This document is
an initial output of the Cities and Climate Change Initiative activities in Honiara,
Solomon Islands. This abridged report is based on the report titled: “Honiara, Solomon Islands – Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment” funded by the United
Nations Development Programme under Strengthening Environmental Management, and Reducing the Impact of Climate Change in Solomon Islands (SEMRICC),
the Government of Norway, and the United Nations Development Account.
Starting with a brief background of the city, this report addresses Honiara’s climate change situation from a climate risk perspective that focuses on hazards,
vulnerabilities, and the adaptive capacities of the city. Following the insights
gained from clarifying the climate change challenges, the report proposes the
key sectors for climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in Honiara. It
finally recommends updating and improvement of the Honiara City Council Local
Planning Scheme, and updating and improvement of the Honiara City Council
Corporate Plan.

HS Number: HS/026/14E
ISBN Number (Series): 978-92-1-132400-6
ISBN Number (Volume): 978-92-1-132615-4

United Nations Human Settlements Programme
P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
E-mail: infohabitat@unhabitat.org

www.unhabitat.org