Susan Sulu, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECDM), has urged for the new Climate Smart Social Services Programme to be expanded to other provinces in the country.
This call came during the launch of a SBD53.8 million partnership between UNICEF Pacific and the Korean Government in Honiara. The program will initially focus on Guadalcanal Province. Its goal is to improve schools and health facilities, making them resilient to climate changes while using low-carbon solar panels. It will also help households access quality water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Sulu emphasized the importance of extending these benefits beyond Guadalcanal. She pointed out that the effects of climate change on children’s health and well-being are often overlooked in current programs.
“We need to learn from this project and apply those lessons in other areas,” she said. “It’s crucial to look at the data about how environmental changes affect children.”
She praised the initiative, “Climate Action for the Last Mile,” which targets the most vulnerable children in East Asia and the Pacific. This approach considers the psychological impacts of climate change, which often go unrecognized.
During a recent visit to Sikaiana Island in the Malaita Outer Islands, she spoke with children about relocating to Malaita inland. Their response was clear: they didn’t want to leave because it would mean giving up fishing, an activity they cherish.
This illustrates the need for thoughtful solutions to climate-related issues. “Addressing climate change requires a specific approach that considers the unique needs of our communities,” Sulu noted.
Funded by KOICA, this project will be managed by UNICEF and is set to continue until 2027.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
