Managing Risks with Adaptation

Years of conflict, neglect, and deferred maintenance resulted in 80% of the Solomon Islands’ roads being rendered impassable. Likewise, only about 25% of bridges were in good condition, 8% were closed to traffic, and the rest needed repairs.

In 2006, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the governments of Australia, New Zealand, and Solomon Islands committed $19.4 million to improve the road network. Under the Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project (SIRIP 1), 100 kilometers of the country’s rural roads and roughly 40 bridges and stream crossings were rehabilitated and upgraded.

During rehabilitation, strong winds and heavy rains hammered the islands, causing floods that extensively damaged infrastructure.

Recognizing the need to protect its investments and fortify Solomon Islands against further damages and destruction brought about by the changing climate, ADB approved a $24-million grant for SIRIP 2 to support the objectives of SIRIP 1. The objective was to repair the infrastructure damaged by the floods and provide increased attention to changing climate patterns and the damages these can cause to infrastructure.

The project team learned that in a world of climate change, adaptation is about managing risks to avoid possible costly post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation. There is no “off-the-shelf” approach to adapting to climate change. Location and current conditions will influence how climate change impacts are assessed and what adaptation measures can be adopted.