Climate change 101 for women in the Solomon Islands

Around 15 staff and volunteers of the West Are'are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA) have increased their understanding of climate resilience after completing a climate change module developed by Australia Pacific Climate Partnership, at the end of August in Honiara, Solomon Islands. WARA is a local non-governmental organisation, established more than 20 years ago focused on women's economic empowerment for women of West Are’Are. WARA's network has grown over the years to include women’s groups from other provinces 

WARA recognized that there is greater need to integrate climate resilience in their work, and so supported staff and volunteers with capacity building through the climate module.

"I've learned a lot as this is my first time to attend such training. I learned about climate change adaptation and mitigation and what we can do to contribute to climate action," one of the participants commented.

The training facilitated by the Australian Pacific Climate Alumni Network's Solomon Islands National Coordinator has increased participants' understanding and knowledge on why climate change is happening, types of hazards, and the differences between weather and climate. It also helped participants to understand general actions that can be taken to reduce the causes of climate change (mitigation) and address the impacts (adaptation). At the end of the training, participants reflected on actions already being taken by WARA to address the impacts of climate change on their communities, and on what they could do at the individual and family level to contribute to climate action and resilience building.