History of the Higher Ground Initiative

The Higher Ground Initiative (HGI) is a generational undertaking by the Republic of Nauru. As the key climate response strategy of the island nation, it is urgent in response, comprehensive in scope, integrative in approach, and transformational in objective. Through this planned managed migration of the population of Nauru to the higher elevations of the island, the country has the opportunity not only to adapt to the threat of sea level rise, but to mitigate its contribution to the ever-growing global climate crisis while improving its national security, economic vitality, social equity, and cultural preservation in the process. With the implementation of this ambitious initiative to create safe, healthy, and thriving communities, Nauru will be able to secure its long-term sovereignty in the face of these local and global crises.

The initiative was announced in 2019 by the President and Cabinet as “a managed retreat to higher ground” over the next 50 years, with a mandate to rehabilitate and develop Topside, the upper elevations of the island of Nauru. In response, the HGI Steering Committee, which includes most Heads of Departments, sought to update the 1994 Master Land Use Plan for Nauru and commenced a feasibility study. In 2021, the Steering Committee launched a RONPHOS/ NRC Joint Collaboration Project for Crown Land at Land Portion 230, identifying the 10 hectare cornerstone development opportunity on Government owned land that could serve as the initial phase of implementation response to the HGI mandate. Along with this key strategic determination, the HGI Political Narrative was subsequently adopted by the Cabinet, securing a comprehensive vision for HGI.

The fundamental pillars that will determine a successful outcome for the ambitious vision of the Higher Ground Initiative (HGI) are as follows:

Economic Diversification: HGI should enable new opportunities for domestic business development and entrepreneurship. HGI implementation and construction will generate many jobs, and it will be essential that Nauruan businesses, existing and new, are able to take part to the greatest extent possible. The practical and technical skills gained through participation in this large development initiative will empower Nauruans to pursue new business opportunities and to export their new products and services to other countries in the region. The country’s central location, along with the regional connectivity provided by its national air carrier and GCF-funded port renovation make Nauru a natural transport hub, which can generate new business opportunities in shipping, fishing, and eco-tourism.

Affordable Green Housing: Nauru is one of the most densely populated islands in the Pacific. An affordable housing plan integrated into HGI can address the immediate crisis of overcrowding and provide a sustainable framework for the provision of affordable housing to current and future generations. Combined with modern sustainability technologies, like rooftop solar, rainwater harvesting, and energy efficient cooling, the new housing stock will advance the country’s sustainable development priorities while providing safer and more comfortable living options for the people.

Education & Training: The planning and implementation of HGI will provide important opportunities for Nauruans to gain new knowledge and acquire new skills. Urban planning, environmental management, electrical engineering, carpentry, and information technology are just a small sample of the skill sets that will be required for HGI, all of which can be incorporated into Nauru’s school curriculum and TVET programs. And acquiring these skills will give Nauruans far greater control over their economic future. The model of HGI should also be shared with other small island nations through the establishment of a centre of excellence, which can serve as a regional research hub for sustainability and the blue economy.

Energy Security: The importation of fossil fuel is one of the largest costs to Nauru’s economy. Price volatility leaves the country persistently vulnerable to crisis and diverts limited resources away from other potential investments in public services and infrastructure. HGI can fundamentally shift Nauru away from fossil fuels. Smart urban planning that incorporates e-mobility and other transportation options, along with renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, will dramatically reduce demand for dirty energy sources, improve Nauru’s balance of trade, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Food Security: The COVID-19 pandemic, which interrupted the flow of goods into the country for several weeks, has demonstrated that Nauru’s high dependence on imported food leaves it highly vulnerable during a crisis. However, even during normal times, these imported foods are unhealthy and unaffordable. Nauru has had considerable success working with the Taiwan Technical Mission to produce healthy food locally. HGI can greatly expand the land area available for local agriculture and aquaculture, thereby improving national food security.

Water Security: Most Nauru residents currently have their water delivered by truck to household storage tanks. This system is expensive and cannot guarantee water quality that meets WHO standards. Changes in precipitation patterns due to climate change may further undermine local water security. HGI must include a modern, reticulated water system that provides clean drinking water to all Nauruans. Water security can be further enhanced by integration of rainwater capture into new buildings and transport infrastructure. Greater water storage will also be necessary to enable the expansion of local agriculture.

Public Health: Healthcare infrastructure is currently concentrated in the low-lying coastal area vulnerable to flooding and sea-level rise. It must be made more resilient to the impacts of climate change. HGI can deliver even greater public health benefits through smart urban planning that encourages healthy lifestyles, increases access to nutritious foods and clean water, and provides greater access to green spaces. A dynamic and culturally rich smart village will also make it easier to attract and retain doctors and nurses, while emerging technology like tele-medicine can be considered for integration into a relocated hospital.

Low/Zero-Emissions Transport: A well-planned transportation grid can improve connectivity between living and working spaces and greatly reduce traffic. Combined with electric vehicles and other alternative transport options, HGI can help improve local air quality, dramatically reduce dependence on expensive fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage healthier lifestyles.

Environmental Restoration: Despite extensive degradation due to decades of mining, Nauru still retains pockets of the lush natural beauty. Incorporating sustainable land management into HGI can nourish and expand these ecosystems, which will improve ground water recharge and flood control, as well as provide accessible new green spaces for leisure and recreation, which are currently in short supply.

Cultural Restoration: There is a growing appreciation for the need to preserve and restore Nauruan culture. The built environment through HGI should strengthen our Central Pacific cultural heritage and reflect our unique Nauruan experience and historical legacy. By engaging the creativity of the Nauruan people, drawing on regional building designs and materials, and engaging leading architects and planners, HGI can become a shining example of Pacific cultural restoration through smart and locally-inspired urbanism. Space for art displays and performances can be incorporated into public gathering places in ways that augment cultural programs promoted through our schools, the national museum, our churches, and other relevant institutions. Placing cultural restoration at the centre of HGI can anchor a society buffeted by transnational mass media and provide a healthy outlet for the energy and creativity of our young population.

Good Governance. The planning and procurement process must provide for transparency and broad participation of all stakeholders so that the benefits of HGI are shared equitably and reach those who are most in need. International best practices to ensure accountability should be explored and implemented appropriately. Special attention will be needed for politically sensitive issues, such as land tenure. Engagement with landowners should begin early and give them confidence that their participation in HGI is meaningful. SECTION 1.0

The breadth of sectors impacted by these pillars underscores a need for a Government-wide approach to implementation of the HGI vision, ensuring that the mandates of all ministries are integrated and the expertise of all departments is incorporated into the planning process of the project. In this way, HGI is both a vehicle for achieving the goals of the policies of the

Government of the Republic of Nauru, but is likewise a structure that enables all departments to achieve those goals which align with the HGI directive. With the guidance of the HGI vision, an emergent sustainability strategy has been developed, advancing a vision for Nauru that can meet the needs and leverage the opportunities that exist for the island, today and in the future.