Press Release
15 May 2026
The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is proud to have participated in the 20th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change (CBA20), held from 11โ14 May 2026 in Manila, Philippines, under the theme โLocal Solutions Inspiring Global Action.โ
CBA20 is one of the worldโs leading conferences on climate adaptation, bringing together researchers, practitioners, community leaders, development partners, and policymakers from across the globe to share experiences and solutions for building climate resilience through locally led adaptation. This yearโs conference attracted more than 400 participants from around the world.
As part of this important international event, SINU co-hosted the Health Session titled โClimate Change and Health Adaptation: Scaling National and Local Level Health Investments as a Critical Adaptation Response in Developing Countries.โ The session was held on Monday, 11 May 2026, as one of the opening sessions of the conference and was organised in partnership with Save the Children (England), Womenโs Climate Center International (East Africa), and CARE International Iraq.
The session brought together presenters and participants from Laos, Iraq, East Africa, Vietnam, and the Solomon Islands to discuss how climate change is increasingly becoming a public health crisis, particularly for vulnerable communities. Discussions focused on climate-resilient health systems, community-based adaptation, citizen science, disease surveillance, water security, early warning systems, and locally led solutions.
Representing SINU at the session were:
- Collin Benjamin โ Co-facilitator and Rapporteur, who supported the documentation of key discussions, lessons, and recommendations from the session.
- Nixon Panda โ Presented SINUโs research on strengthening community-based water security planning in climate-vulnerable rural communities in the Solomon Islands.
- Dr Hugo Bugoro โ Presented research on the use of citizen science for malaria and dengue surveillance, highlighting the importance of community participation in disease prevention and climate-health adaptation.
For the SINU team, co-hosting a session at a major international conference such as CBA20 was both a proud achievement and a valuable learning experience. It demonstrated that research and local knowledge from the Solomon Islands can contribute meaningfully to global conversations on climate adaptation and public health.
The University acknowledges its continued investment in research development as one of its key priorities. Through this commitment, SINU continues to strengthen its role as a leading academic institution contributing solutions to national, regional, and global challenges.
Appreciation is also extended to the strong and impactful partnership between SINU and the International WaterCentre/Griffith University through previous collaborative research projects on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The University further acknowledges the support of the Australian Government in funding some of these important research partnerships and projects. These collaborations have strengthened the research capacity of SINU academic staff and have consistently brought Solomon Islands research and community experiences onto the global stage. Importantly, they have also contributed to improved rural water management practices in parts of the Solomon Islands.
Key Messages from the Health Session:
- Climate change is increasingly becoming a public health crisis.
- Communities must be at the centre of adaptation planning and action.
- Indigenous knowledge and citizen science are critical for resilience.
- Women, youth, and vulnerable groups must be included in decision-making.
- Strong partnerships and locally led approaches are essential for sustainable adaptation.
The session concluded with a strong message that effective climate-health adaptation must start at the community level, strengthen local systems, integrate both scientific and indigenous knowledge, and support inclusive partnerships for long-term resilience.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr Hugo Bugoro said, โOur local knowledge is still one of the important ways we deal with climate change in our communities. The knowledge and practices passed down by our elders have helped our people stay strong and adapt over many generations. Sometimes we do not see how strong and resilient we are, but people from outside can clearly see that our strength comes from the local ways and knowledge we still use today. This is what CBA20 is about, local solutions inspiring global action.โ
Through participation in CBA20, SINU continues to raise the profile of Solomon Islands research internationally while promoting community-centred solutions for climate resilience, health, and sustainable development.
ENDS//