PM Matthew Wale calls for greater investment in nature-based solutions to protect Pacific communities and build resilience.
Prime Minister Matthew Wale has called for greater investment in nature-based solutions.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the Pacific’s reefs, mangroves and coastal ecosystems are critical infrastructure for protecting communities from climate impacts.
Speaking at a high-level political session of the Pacific Action for Climate Transitions (PACT) Pre-COP31 event in Nadi today, Prime Minister Wale said natural ecosystems should be recognised for the economic and protective value they provide, alongside conventional infrastructure.
“In the Pacific, coral reefs protect 41 per cent of hazard-exposed coastal people, the highest share of any region,” Prime Minister Wale said.
He noted that engineered seawalls can cost between US$15 million and US$20 million per kilometre, highlighting the potential value of investing in reefs, mangroves and other natural coastal protection.
“Investing in reefs, coastal protection and mangroves is cost-effective adaptation, disaster-risk reduction and food security in one,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale said the scale of global investment remains heavily weighted against nature.
He said the 2026 State of Finance for Nature report estimated around US$220 billion invested annually in nature-based solutions, compared with approximately US$7.3 trillion flowing into activities that harm nature.
“ The imbalance demonstrates the need to redirect investment towards solutions that strengthen both environmental and economic resilience,” he said.
For Pacific countries, Prime Minister Wale said this must include greater investment in locally led and Pacific-designed mechanisms, rather than relying on complex financing systems that small administrations struggle to access.
He also highlighted Solomon Islands’ opportunities in marine planning, blue-carbon initiatives, community-based marine management, forest restoration and conservation.
Prime Minister Wale said the Pacific’s natural capital already provides essential services to its people and should be treated as a long-term asset.
“We do not ask the world to save our Blue Pacific Continent. This ocean already works for us: it feeds us, shelters us, and holds our culture and history,” he said.
He called for partnerships that enable Pacific countries to sustainably manage and invest in their natural capital on terms that reflect their own circumstances and priorities.
Source// OPMC PRESS RELEASE
