Pacific Ministers commit to urgent action on water and sanitation at 2025 regional meeting in Honiara
Wednesday 27 August 2025, Honiara – The Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Meeting concluded yesterday in Honiara, with ministers from 14 Pacific Island countries and territories committing to urgent action to strengthen water and sanitation across the region.
The Ministers Forum, held from 25–26 August 2025, brought together ministers and senior representatives from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. They were joined by regional organisations and development partners, including the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA), the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, Australia, and New Zealand.
In their communiqué, ministers reaffirmed that safe, reliable, and sustainable water and sanitation are fundamental to the health, dignity, security, and resilience of Pacific peoples. They highlighted the urgent need for renewed national action and regional solidarity to address access gaps, noting that nine million Pacific Islanders lack basic sanitation and five million do not have access to safe water. The communiqué stressed that water is not only an economic issue but also a fundamental human right and a matter of regional security.
The forum emphasised the importance of building resilience to climate change and natural disasters, noting the Pacific’s vulnerability to droughts, floods, and other hydro-meteorological events. Ministers called for stronger investment in hydrological services, disaster preparedness, and innovative infrastructure solutions to ensure water and sanitation systems can withstand these challenges.
Ministers also recognised the vital role of Pacific water and wastewater utilities, supporting continued efforts to strengthen governance, capacity, and performance through peer learning and collaboration. The communiqué endorsed the creation of a Pacific Water Security Warriors programme to develop a new generation of champions advocating for water security nationally, regionally, and internationally.
The ministers resolved to carry the Pacific’s priorities into global forums, including the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, and reaffirmed their commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6. They agreed that no Pacific Islander should be left behind in this effort.
The Tenth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Meeting will be hosted by French Polynesia in 2026, where progress on these commitments will be reviewed.
The 16th Pacific Water and Wastewater Conference and Expo, which runs alongside the Ministers Meeting, continues today and will conclude tomorrow, 28 August 2025. The Expo is showcasing the latest innovations, technologies, and solutions for the region’s water and sanitation challenges.
The Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA), the leading regional association for water and sanitation professionals, plays a central role in these efforts. The Conference provides a platform for ministers, utility leaders, water professionals, industry experts, and development partners to engage in discussions, share experiences, and explore practical solutions tailored to the Pacific context.
SOURCE : Ministry of Mines, Energy & Rural Electrification
