WaterAid Australia Chief Executive Tom Muller writes on the impacts of climate change on access to sanitation across the Pacific.
COP29 begins today and World Toilet Day is next week.
It is important to remember that access to sanitation is a human right and essential for health and dignity.
However, for millions across the Pacific, access to safe, reliable and climate-resilient sanitation remains out of reach. The Pacific Islands, despite contributing the least to global climate change, face some of its most devastating impacts.
As the region faces rising sea levels, extreme weather events and a changing climate, it is clear these environmental challenges are not just about water. They are about human health, livelihoods and access to essential services—especially sanitation.
WaterAid Australia's work in the region focuses on creating sustainable sanitation and water systems that withstand the climate crisis, while also addressing immediate health needs that arise from lack of access to clean water or a decent toilet.
World Toilet Day is just one day. WaterAid is calling on governments, donors, and the international community to prioritise investment in climate-resilient sanitation infrastructure in the Pacific every day.
The region cannot and should not continue to bear the brunt of a crisis it did not cause.
Least Responsible, Most Affected
The Pacific Islands collectively account for less than 0.03% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies and more frequent and severe cyclones threaten homes, health and futures. Rising sea levels are contaminating water sources with saltwater, rendering traditional sanitation systems ineffective.
Flooding and extreme rainfall events overwhelm toilets, causing contamination of communities' water supplies and spreading diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.
In the Pacific, the climate crisis is a lived reality, not a distant threat.
Climate-Resilient Sanitation
At WaterAid, we are committed to building sanitation systems that withstand the challenges of climate change, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Pacific.
We understand that traditional approaches to sanitation are no longer sufficient. Instead, we need solutions that are adaptable, sustainable and resilient to extreme weather and environmental changes.
This is why we are working to influence communities, governments and partners across the Pacific to ensure that everyone has access to climate-resilient sanitation.
Our recent report, Healthy Environments, Resilient Communities: The Vital Role of Sanitation in Improving Climate Resilience in the Pacific, highlights the importance of integrating climate resilience into sanitation planning.
We focus on designing systems that are flexible and can withstand climate shocks, from floods to droughts, so that no one is left without access to a toilet or clean water.
In Papua New Guinea WaterAid has worked with local communities to elevate toilets and construct them with materials that can better resist flooding.
In Timor-Leste, WaterAid has partnered with local organisations to implement climate-resilient sanitation in rural communities prone to drought. By introducing ecological sanitation systems, which safely recycle human waste as compost, these communities can maintain sanitation during water shortages.
These systems reduce the need for large amounts of water and help improve agricultural productivity through compost use.
The Effect of Poor Sanitation in a Changing Climate
Climate-resilient sanitation isn't just about building better toilets. It's about addressing the effects that poor sanitation has on public health, the environment and economies, especially in the context of climate change.
Without adequate sanitation, communities are more vulnerable to waterborne diseases, which can spread rapidly during flooding or extreme rainfall. These outbreaks not only cause immediate harm but can also overwhelm healthcare systems.
For women and girls, the impacts are even more pronounced. In many communities, they bear the responsibility of collecting water and managing household sanitation.
When toilets are flooded or unavailable, women and girls often have no choice but to wait until dark to go to the toilet, putting them at risk of harassment and violence.
Climate-resilient sanitation is not only a matter of health—it's also about gender equality, safety and dignity.
The solutions are clear, but they require collective action and substantial investment. Governments in the Pacific need to prioritise climate-resilient sanitation within their national adaptation plans and seek international support to fund and implement these changes.
International donors and development partners must recognise that sanitation is a cornerstone of climate resilience and direct more resources towards ensuring everyone has access to a toilet that works, no matter the weather.
At WaterAid, we are advocating for these changes while continuing to provide technical support on the ground to Pacific Island nations.
Ahead of World Toilet Day, we urge the global community to listen to the voices of Pacific communities, who are calling for climate justice.
We believe in a future where no one is left behind—where every person has access to the human right of sanitation, even in the face of challenges like climate change.
