Pacific Islands Water Scarcity Crisis
Recent Developments
01In February 2024, the Pacific Community (SPC) reported that Pacific Island countries came together to discuss water scarcity, reflecting continued regional concern over shortages and freshwater vulnerability.
02In April 2024, reporting on Kiribati highlighted that rising sea levels and droughts are increasingly threatening access to safe drinking water in the country.
03UNDP’s recent Pacific briefing said climate change is worsening water scarcity by increasing salinity in groundwater and intensifying drought and extreme weather impacts across Pacific Island countries.
Interventions
- Regional coordination on water scarcity through Pacific institutions such as SPC, including cross-country discussions on water security and climate resilience.
- Emergency water support and backup supply measures such as rainwater harvesting, desalination where available, and temporary deliveries to remote islands, which are described as common response approaches in the region.
- Water resource management and infrastructure rehabilitation efforts focused on reducing leakage, improving sanitation controls, and protecting groundwater lenses from contamination.
What Works
- Protecting and managing groundwater recharge areas, because seawater intrusion and contamination are major drivers of supply loss in atoll and coastal islands.
- Improving leak control, sanitation, and wastewater management, since the World Bank review identifies pollution, leakage, and poor sanitation as major threats to Pacific water security.
- Diversifying supply with rainwater harvesting and resilient storage, which helps reduce dependence on shallow aquifers that are highly vulnerable to drought and saltwater intrusion.
How to Help
- Support humanitarian and development organizations working on Pacific water security, including UN and regional agencies active in the Pacific.
- Back local NGOs and community groups that maintain rainwater systems, storage tanks, and small-scale water infrastructure.
- Advocate for climate adaptation and water infrastructure funding for Pacific Island states through national governments and international donors.
Make an Impact
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Verified Organizations
Organizations Helping(5)
SPC participates in regional work on universal and meaningful connectivity in the Pacific, helping governments and regional partners measure connectivity gaps and coordinate action. Its role supports evidence-based planning for better internet access and digital inclusion across Pacific Small Island Developing States.
The partnership advances water security through the Water Security Technical Working Group, which was created to accelerate action on water and sanitation needs for the region’s most vulnerable communities. Its work focuses on advocacy, coordination, and regional planning, with technical and secretariat support from the BRAC project funded by New Zealand’s MFAT.
UNICEF supports governments to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water. In the Pacific, this involves water-supply programming that helps address safe drinking water access, especially for vulnerable communities affected by scarcity and unreliable infrastructure.
UNDP tackles the Pacific digital divide through the Pacific Digital Democracy Initiative by conducting Digital Readiness Assessments, funding civil society groups through low-value grants, and running capacity-building programmes. It focuses on online safety, digital empowerment, and community-based outreach to help marginalized Pacific communities participate more safely and effectively in digital life.
