The four atoll nations– namely Kiribati, Maldives, Republic of Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu – are facing existential climate adaptation challenges. Rising extreme sea levels are accelerating coastal flooding, erosion, and ecosystem degradation, threatening the very foundations of these island communities.  

Projections suggest that sea levels could rise by almost one meter by 2100, exacerbating these impacts and placing critical infrastructure and livelihoods at severe risk. Infrastructure in these nations is often ill-equipped to withstand extreme events due to financial constraints and limited technical capacity. Vital assets such as telecommunications, power, roads, airports and ports - essential for emergency response and supply chains – are particularly vulnerable.  

To address these urgent challenges, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Asian Development Bank, with their critical infrastructure resilience initiatives and Triple A (Accelerating Atoll Adaptation) initiative, are partnering to foster dialogue, knowledge exchange, and investment in resilient infrastructure.  

Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Dialogue Series: Building Resilience of Infrastructure in Atoll Nations focuses on practical, cross-sectoral solutions in transport, energy, water, and telecommunications. This series seeks to strengthen collaboration and share best practices to enhance infrastructure resilience against climate-related hazards and other threats. 

By bringing together global expertise and regional insights, CDRI and ADB seek to catalyze action that empowers atoll communities to adapt, thrive, and build a more secure future. 

The first dialogue in the series will focus on the topic of “Strengthening Infrastructure Resilience to Climate Risks in Atoll Nations”. 

This collaborative platform aims to: 

• Foster dialogue among policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders on infrastructure resilience.
• Promote knowledge exchange on best practices and scalable solutions across sectors such as transport, energy, water, and telecommunications
• Mobilize investment in resilient infrastructure tailored to the needs of atoll nations.
• Support long-term resilience to safeguard livelihoods and ensure sustainable growth.