Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands — an archipelago of nearly 1,000 islands in the South Pacific — was thrust into the international spotlight when it recognized the People’s Republic of China in 2019 and entered into a security pact with Beijing in 2022. Conflict in Solomon Islands largely stems from competition for scarce resources and economic inequalities, precarities which are exacerbated by climate change. Solomon Islands also has some of the highest rates of domestic and gender-based violence in the world. USIP supports local researchers and convenes key civil society leaders to better understand drivers of conflict in Solomon Islands.
Featured Publications
Malaita and the Provincial-National Divide in Solomon Islands
In 2019, Malaita Province in Solomon Islands made geopolitical headlines when its former premier, Daniel Suidani, came out against the country’s closer bilateral relations with China. As a result of his stance, Suidani was removed from his position in February 2023.
The Unsustainable Exploitation of Solomon Islands’ Natural Resources
The extractive industry in Solomon Islands serves as a crucial catalyst for economic growth and development, tapping into the nation's abundant natural resources like timber, minerals and fisheries for export — mainly to China. But despite its promise for economic prosperity, the extractive industry poses significant challenges, requiring careful management to ensure sustainability and minimize adverse effects on the environment and local communities.
Pacific Island Nations Seek Climate Solutions Outside of COP28
While the Pacific Islands are responsible for less than 1 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions, they face disproportionate impacts from climate change. These impacts are wide ranging: rising sea levels, salinization and dwindling availability of fresh water, increasing and more intense tropical storms, floods, drought, ocean acidification and coral reef bleaching. Already, NASA finds that sea level rise in Tuvalu is 1.5 times faster than the global average — and is expected to more than double by 2100.