Coral reefs are central to the economy and livelihoods of Palau while providing risk reduction benefits. However, climate change is posing a serious threat to the survival of corals. Rise in sea surface temperature and ocean acidification as a result of climate change is causing more frequent and severe coral bleaching events. Future projections also indicate that widespread coral bleaching will occur annually in Palau’s coral reefs by 2040.
It is estimated that only a fraction of the one million tons of wastewater sludge is processed safely in Uzbek wastewater treatment plants. Around 93% of the wastewater generated by the densely populated Namangan province is discharged with a high risk of leakage to rivers and agricultural areas. As most areas are not connected to any wastewater treatment system, wastewater leakage threatens to contaminate the water, soil and food crops of the region.
Papua New Guinea’s economic development will require considerable growth in the coverage and quality of its state transport network. The total road network is 30 000 kilometers, of which 8460 km are state roads. Only 28% of the 8460 km of state roads were in a good condition as noted in 2010. A comprehensive program of rehabilitating existing roads and constructing new roads would expand the state road network to 25 000 km by 2035.
Vanuatu has set ambitious targets of reaching 100% renewable energy for electricity production by 2030, requiring 15% energy savings through energy efficiency measures. However, progress towards achieving such measures requires effective policies, relevant legislation, information-based planning, and private sector participation, amongst others, to facilitate activities towards meeting the national energy targets.
