United Nations Micronesia Working Paper Series No. 3: A Scoping Study on Sustainable Aviation in Micronesia

Policy Pathways for Environmental and Economic Resilience

Aviation serves as a vital lifeline for the remote island nations of Micronesia, underpinning economic development, facilitating tourism and enabling access to essential services. Despite its strategic significance, the subregion continues to encounter persistent challenges in maintaining reliable and environmentally sustainable air connectivity. These challenges are primarily attributable to limited flight networks, high operational costs and geographic isolation and are further exacerbated by the growing impacts of climate change. Notwithstanding the sector’s vulnerability, there remains a notable gap in the literature regarding aviation decarbonization pathways that are responsive to the unique socioeconomic and geographic circumstances of Micronesian small island developing States (SIDS). This paper seeks to address this gap by examining the current aviation landscape, assessing climate-related risks and proposing policy options to advance sustainable aviation in the subregion. Employing a data-driven methodology, complemented by a descriptive review of international flight connections and tourism flows, the study analyzes route connectivity, climate vulnerabilities and institutional constraints across five Micronesian countries: Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Palau. The findings indicate that while the subregion remains heavily reliant on international aid and bilateral partnerships to sustain minimal air links, there is considerable untapped potential to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the aviation sector through strengthened international cooperation and the adoption of emerging technologies.