Climate change and disaster impacts

Australia is committed to working in partnership with the Government of Nauru to meet the needs and aspirations of its people to build resilience to climate change and disaster events.

Nauru is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The country faces challenges such as stronger and longer-lasting droughts, heat waves, coastal erosion, increased acidity of ocean waters, sea level rise, wind-driven waves and king tides. These climate-related hazards are projected to intensify over time.

• At least 90 percent of all food consumed in Nauru is imported. Australia is supporting an upgrade to Nauru's port and airport runway to facilitate more reliable and secure freight shipping services, supporting import food security in a changing climate. In addition Australia is funding technical support from the World Food Programme to strengthen national food security governance and mechanisms.
• Access to clean drinking water in Nauru is already challenging, and as sea levels rise and storm surge increases, fresh water is more likely to be polluted. Australia has helped increase the availability of freshwater through the provision of community rainwater catchment and storage facilities.
• Climate change disproportionately impacts those already experiencing exclusion and marginalisation, including women, people with disabilities and people living in poverty. Australia is committed to supporting gender-responsive and inclusive approaches to climate and disaster risk resilience to achieve better program outcomes.

Bilateral support

Australia integrates climate and disaster resilience through its bilateral development assistance to Nauru across all areas of programming, including in the infrastructure, health, governance and education sectors.

• Through the Sustainable and Climate Resilient Connectivity Project, Australia is working with the Asian Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund and the Government of Nauru to build a climate resilient deep-water port to facilitate the efficient delivery of essential supplies and to encourage increased trade and economic activity. Of the $79.5m project costs, the costs of climate change adaptation is estimated to be $55m. This upgrade means the Port will withstand the impacts of climate change and ensure Nauru can continue to have access to food and critical goods.
• The Nauru-Australia Partnership on Economic Governance recognises the need for Nauru to access climate financing to meet its climate adaptation requirements. Building evidence of strong audit, robust public financial management systems and processes will improve Nauru's access to multilateral climate change funds. The program is working with existing development partners to establish climate financing strategies, integrating climate finance into the budget process, supporting coordination and developing a pipeline of viable projects.
• Australia's new Health Program "Rana Tsimorumh" with Nauru  is enabling the Nauruan health system to better respond to health threats and to meet the heath needs of the people of Nauru by providing effective, accessible and inclusive quality health services. The program will integrate climate change across its outcomes to strengthen Nauru's health systems ability to respond to climate change challenges. A climate risk analysis will identify issues and any likely health impacts and targeted activities that will specifically address climate risk to health outcomes.
• Through our One Health Program with veterinary organisation AMRRIC, we are building Nauru's capacity to respond and deal with zoonotic disease outbreaks, a key health threat exacerbated by climate change. This program is also working with Nauru to undertake some of the first biodiversity and environmental conservation work ever undertaken in Nauru, focusing on bird populations.
• Australia is ensuring the rehabilitation works in the Nauru Airport Rehabilitation Project will withstand the impacts of climate change and disasters and last the intended design lifespan (20 years) of the runway. It will also ensure Nauru remains open for business and safely connected to the outside world for essential food and medical supplies regardless of future changes in climate and weather conditions.

Regional and global programs

Nauru also benefits from a range of regional and globally funded climate change programs  to build Nauru's climate  and disaster resilience , including through the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific Phase 3 (COSPPac3) (Australian contribution $30 million, 2023-29) supports the Nauru National Meteorological Service to provide climate and ocean monitoring and prediction services. Climate predictions help Pacific island countries to prepare for disasters like droughts and tropical cyclones. Ocean predictions (tide, currents, wind and waves) support fishing, tourism and shipping.