A Solomon Islands delegation is at the 8th Pacific Water & Wastewater Forum and the 15th Pacific Water & Wastewater Conference and Expo, held this week in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mines, Energy, and Rural Electrification, Hon. Bradley Tovosia, the event is taking place under the theme "Water Resilience in the Pasifika – Navigating the Currents of Change for a Climate Resilient Region," focus on three key objectives:

  • Assessing progress in the implementation of water and sanitation resilience, climate change preparedness, and security, in alignment with the targets of SDG Goal 6, while identifying potential areas for financing to achieve the 2030 agenda.
  • Reviewing the current progress of each member country based on various indicators from the annual benchmarking survey, particularly how utilities are leveraging this data to make investment decisions for resilient infrastructure and communities.
  • Exploring potential areas for collaboration and partnerships that support utilities.

The Forum builds on discussions from previous gatherings to elevate the status of water and sanitation at the national, regional, and international levels.

During the opening of the Forum on Monday, Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Hon. Albert Nicholas, emphasized the importance of including the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) agenda for 2025, which will be hosted by the Solomon Islands.

He noted that this inclusion would foster greater collaboration and promote effective governance of water, sanitation, and wastewater management at both national and international levels.

Hon. Nicholas also highlighted the urgency of addressing water resilience as a global issue, particularly in the face of rising population, increased food production, and industrial development.

He pointed out that the availability of quality, sustainable water and sanitation services has become increasingly challenging due to environmental degradation and climate change.

Hon. Tovosia is accompanied by key Government officials and officials from the Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA).

 

Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit