Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Cooper Wale has emphasised that climate finance is fundamental to Solomon Islandsβ economic resilience, energy and water security, sustainable livelihoods and human wellbeing.
Addressing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Official Side Event at COP31 in Antalya, TΓΌrkiye, Prime Minister Wale said climate finance must be viewed as an essential investment in the countryβs development and security.
He said the impacts of climate change were already being felt by vulnerable countries, while existing climate finance flows remained incompatible with their growing needs.
The Prime Minister said investment in climate action directly supports national development priorities.
He said this includes strengthening economic resilience, securing water and energy supplies, protecting livelihoods and improving the wellbeing of communities.
He highlighted the Green Climate Fundβs contribution to Solomon Islands through major investments, including the Tina River Hydropower Development Project and the Solomon Islands Knowledge-Action-Sustainability for Resilient Villages (SOLKAS) project.
With approximately USD86 million in GCF support, the 15MW Tina River Hydropower Project is expected to provide around 65β70 percent of Honiaraβs energy needs, while contributing to the countryβs transition towards renewable energy.
Meanwhile, the USD25 million SOLKAS project is working directly with communities to strengthen adaptive capacity and protect vulnerable populations, particularly children, against climate shocks.
Prime Minister Wale said these partnerships demonstrate how climate finance can translate into tangible benefits for communities and support national development.
He stressed that an ambitious and adequately resourced third replenishment of the Green Climate Fund was essential to scaling up such investments and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable countries.
