Focus on the Pacific Islands

Many Pacific islands are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change such as sea level rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that sea levels will rise by between 0.09 and 0.88 metres by 2100 and continue rising after this. Higher sea levels will cause coastal flooding and have adverse effects on biodiversity, soils and water supplies. Pacific Islanders will be among the first people forced to adapt or ultimately relocate. The impacts will be felt for many generations because of the low adaptive capacity in these islands and high vulnerability to climate-related natural disasters.

Concerns about climatic change were first raised during the South Pacific Forum Leaders meeting in 1988. In 2000, the Pacific Framework on Climate Variability, Climate Change and Sea Level Rise was adopted. Local public pressure is now mounting for action on adaptation on many islands. There is growing community and government concern about the need to reduce vulnerability and manage the risks posed by extreme events and long-term change.

The Pacific Framework aims to promote action and strengthen partnerships at all levels. This will enable islanders to understand and respond to climate change and sea level rise. People and partnerships are at the centre of the process. This is reflected in the range of climate change programmes now underway. An example of this is a workshop held in 2004, organised by the Fiji Department of Environment in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund-Fiji climate change. This initiative aims to develop strategies that reduce the risks of climate change for people, such as building freshwater storage facilities. This is part of a regional initiative organised by the Canadian International Development Agency.

There are several critical research and information needs in Pacific Islands. These include:

• providing access to and maintaining fresh water supplies, which are threatened by contamination by rising sea levels
• protecting public health
• ensuring public safety in extreme events and protecting community infrastructure
• sustaining agriculture, by adapting to changing rainfall patterns and increasing salt content in soils
• sustaining tourism
• promoting wise use of marine and coastal resources, such as mangroves, coral reefs and fish stocks.

Although several adaptation programmes are in place, there remain considerable difficulties. Experience over the last two decades shows that while Pacific Islanders are receptive to assistance from outside, they know that they are responsible for designing impact and adaptation programmes within their communities. These must consider local cultures, traditions, and identify the factors likely to hold back the success of these programmes.

Adapted by Tim Woods from the following:

'Case Study: Pacific Islands', by P. Lefale, National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, New Zealand (unpublished)
p.lefale@niwa.co.nz

'South Pacific Currents', WWF South Pacific Programme Number 23, D. McFadzien, 2004
dmcfadzien@wwfpacific.org.fj
www.wwfpacific.org.fj

Earth Policy Updates
www.earth-policy.org/Updates/Update2.htm

South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Climate Change
www.sprep.org.ws/topic/climate.htm

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