The World Bank has released a new report examining the growing climate and disaster risks facing Papua New Guinea, with particular attention to rural communities whose livelihoods are closely connected to weather-sensitive economic activities.

The report, “Building Community Resilience in a Complex Setting: Opportunities for Papua New Guinea,” was published on September 9, 2026. It identifies climate and disaster exposure as an important challenge to the country’s development ambitions.

Papua New Guinea’s rural population is especially vulnerable because many households depend directly on agriculture and other activities that can be affected by changing weather conditions. When extreme events disrupt these activities, families can face losses in income, food security and access to essential services.

The country’s geographic characteristics also add to the challenge. Papua New Guinea is exposed to several types of natural hazards, including floods, droughts, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic activity and other weather-related events. The World Bank has previously highlighted the country’s particularly high exposure to multiple hazards.

The new report places emphasis on community resilience—the ability of communities to prepare for disasters, withstand shocks and recover afterwards. Strengthening this resilience can help reduce the economic and social consequences of extreme events.

Better planning, stronger local institutions and improved access to infrastructure and services can play an important role in reducing vulnerability. For remote communities, resilient infrastructure is particularly important because disasters can interrupt transportation and access to markets, schools, healthcare and other essential facilities.

The World Bank’s wider engagement in Papua New Guinea has also focused on improving climate resilience, including infrastructure and service delivery. The institution notes that roads in the country are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and climate-related impacts.

The latest report therefore draws attention to the need for development policies that take disaster and climate risks into account rather than treating them as separate challenges.

For Papua New Guinea, strengthening resilience at the community level could help protect livelihoods while supporting longer-term economic development. The World Bank’s latest analysis provides a data- and research-based framework for considering how vulnerable communities can better prepare for an increasingly complex risk environment.