For the low-lying atoll nations of the Pacific, climate change is not a distant environmental issue—it is an immediate threat to their existence, identity, and security. As sea levels rise, the loss of land, escalating disasters, and resource scarcity are intensifying the risks of migration and land disputes.
The UN Peacebuilding Fund backed the region’s first major initiative, - which is dedicated to enhancing climate resilience. Spanning Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the initiative empowered communities to confront the rising threats head-on, proving that climate resilience is a cornerstone of lasting peace.
Photo above: The aerial view of Nui, Tuvalu, impacted by climate change. Credit: UNDP
Inclusivity at the heart of resilience
Solutions had to be driven by the people most affected. Extensive consultations engaged 1,500 individuals, deliberately elevating the voices of local leaders, women, youth, and people with disabilities.
Sinkiagi Taulamati, a person with a disability from TuvaluWe are vulnerable groups, and our voices and perspectives should always be taken into consideration."
Innovative solutions rooted in local needs
The consultations directly informed community-level initiatives designed to secure resources and defuse potential conflicts over food and land.
In the remote and fragile community of Nui, Tuvalu, the initiative introduced Food Cubes - portable, easily assembled box gardens which were distributed to over 130 households and community centres.
Photo below: Tuvalu's Principal Agroforestry Officer Sama Sapakuka. Credit: UNDP
Sama Sapakuka, Principal Agroforestry Officer in TuvaluThe soil is poor in Tuvalu so it is much easier to grow with the Food Cubes which allowed us to save water. They represent a convenient solution given the increasing coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion."
From soil to sea
To combat the negative impacts of saltwater intrusion on crops and overcome the remoteness of the islands of Kiribati, local nurseries and fisheries were upgraded in Tamana and Marakei. The peacebuilding initiative also equipped the government to finalize the demarcation of unresolved maritime boundaries, a critical step in protecting against illegal fishing.
On Mejatto Island in the Marshall Islands, communities turned to climate-smart agriculture to secure their future. Using solar-powered vertical aeroponic gardens, locals started growing crops safely out of reach of saltwater floods and erratic rains—easing the strain on scarce resources and reducing the risk of food-related conflict.
The peacebuilding initiative delivered specialized climate-security risk assessments that now serve as the foundation for Tuvalu's National Climate Security Policy and the Marshall Islands' National Adaptation Plan.
Furthermore, to ensure the narrative of the Pacific reached beyond its shores, the initiative launched a creative communications campaign. From climate security-themed comic books for schoolchildren to local radio programs, complex issues were translated into local language.
Rising above the tide
By anchoring climate security in both community action and policy reform, Pacific Islanders are not just navigating the rising tide—they are charting a course for a secure, resilient future.
Our partners in peacebuilding in the Pacific Islands
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
Led by the and the in partnership with the Governments of the three countries, and in close collaboration with the , peacebuilding climate security initiative in the Pacific.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organizations.