- Timor-Leste is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Recent heavy rains have damaged many roads and bridges, disrupting people’s access to markets and basic services.
- Together with the Government of Timor-Leste and the National University of Timor-Leste, ADB is conducting a study to examine climate adaptation measures in the road sector.
- ADB’s study and projects will boost the resilience of Timor-Leste’s transportation infrastructure, helping protect lives and livelihoods from harsh climate change impacts.
Timor-Leste is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Recent heavy rains have damaged many roads and bridges in the country, disrupting people’s access to markets and basic services. Together with the Government of Timor-Leste and the National University of Timor-Leste, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is conducting a study through its Climate Change Fund to examine climate adaptation measures in the road sector. ADB’s study and projects will boost the resilience of Timor-Leste’s transportation infrastructure, helping protect lives and livelihoods from harsh climate change impacts.
Transcript
Timor-Leste/Cyclone Seroja, April, 2021
Surrounded by sea, and with its mountainous terrain, Timor-Leste is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Extreme rainfall, cyclones, storm surges, and rising sea levels increase the risk of flooding and landslides. Recent heavy rains have damaged many roads and bridges in the country, disrupting people’s access to markets and basic services.
Field Study Tour, Laclubar/Geotechnical Investigation/ LiDAR Drone
Together with the Government of Timor-Leste and the National University of Timor-Leste, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is conducting a study through its Climate Change Fund to examine climate adaptation measures in the road sector.
Benjamim Hopffer Martins, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Timor-Leste
"Starting from 2011, the government developed the plan for this country, and started development. Then we focused on road development. But after 10 years, we face many, many sections of the road damaged. Maybe it's related closely with climate change.”
Design/ GIS solutions
“If we try to make an economy approach, I think the roads have to be used during the determined time of period (to maximize economic benefits). So, design process also we have to make some improvement.”
Construction
“And during the construction, we need to solve with the company, the government, and the donors like ADB, the World Bank to improve the quality of the construction.”
Maintenance
“Maintenance must be continual. Check every condition of the road and when you have a crack like we can see here, we have to fill to avoid the water come to the road structure. So, these are small things, (but) it's very important to maintain the roads in good condition for a longer period."
Daily life impacts
Damaged and unrehabilitated roads have made daily life difficult for communities.
Domingos Savio, Administrator of Lautem Municipality
"Lautem Municipality is a municipality that requires road access. The challenges that our community face, the community of Lautem Municipality, during their voyage from the national (capital) to this place during rainy season, there roads always have holes, big holes all over it. And, the roads may even be eroded, and causes poor access for public transportation. The community in Lautem Municipality who want to go to the market, bringing their products to Dili or elsewhere, always face this challenge due to the poor road condition. But, even after more than twenty years of our independence, Lautem municipality still has no access to a good road."
Sergio José Cristovão, Chief of Suco Com
"The potentials that we have here in Suco Com, we have plans for community tourism. We should make use of this facility (road), and then develop our tourism sector to work properly, and in this seaside areas people can use it to earn some income in order to live sustainably."
Mario Dias Quintas, Chief of Suco Cacavei, and Jose da Costa Dias, Resident in Suco Cacavei
"Our children, your brothers and sisters here, they all just walk to the school, even if it is raining, they still have to go. Around two and half kilometers to the school in the Suco, they still go, even when it is raining. Sometimes, when class ends in the afternoon, they come and arrive home at around six in the evening."
Bio-engineering Slope Protection
Pilot projects will also test effective climate change adaptation measures, where the community is willing to participate.
ADB support on climate change adaptation
Climate resilient roads are critical for connectivity, which enables access to markets and basic social services such as schools and hospitals. ADB’s study and projects will boost the resilience of Timor-Leste’s transportation infrastructure, helping protect lives and livelihoods from harsh climate change impacts.
