Pacific Island Commonwealth Member States (Pacific CMSs) are highly vulnerable to climate change (high confidence; robust evidence, high agreement). Impacts of climate change on extreme events relevant to Pacific CMSs vary, dependent on the magnitude, frequency, and temporal and spatial extent of the event, as well as on the biophysical nature of the island and its social, economic, and political setting (high confidence).
In the Pacific Islands region, fish and invertebrates (specifically shellfish) fulfill important ecological roles in coastal and oceanic habitats, and many species are targeted by fisheries, making vital contributions to food security, livelihoods, government revenue and cultural heritage. This report discusses how climate change is expected to have profound effects on the status and distribution of coastal and oceanic habitats, the fish and invertebrates they support and, as a result, the productivity of fisheries and aquaculture
This report focuses on marine/coastal inundation and sea level and how they are affected by climate change.
The region of interest is the Pacific Islands, with a focus on Commonwealth countries (Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu).
This paper points out that the exposure to climate hazards varies between states based both on geographical factors (such as the propensity to experience cyclones and droughts, island types and topography) and on such factors as population and infrastructure distribution, all of which provide a framework for considering regional vulnerability to climate change.
This paper discuss the profound effects of climate change on oceanic fish habitats, food webs, the fish stocks they support and, as a consequence, the productivity of fisheries
This paper discuss impacts of climate change on corals according to standardized metrics. It also deals with non-climate drivers because of the synergistic effects they have with climate drivers affecting Pacific corals.
This report synthesizes the emerging evidence of climate impacts at different temperature thresholds for Pacific islands. All evidence points to vast differences in impacts in a 1.5˚C world, compared to the +3˚C world to which our current policies and climate change pledges are leading us. For Pacific islands and marine and coastal ecosystems in the region, these differences cannot be overstated; even a 0.5˚C difference (between 1.5˚C and 2˚C) may mean that critical tipping points are crossed.
This CMEP report provides a summary of climate change impacts on coasts and seas in the Pacific island region, and how Pacific islands can respond.
Scenarios- Finding out what people want
Scenarios can either be ideal
visions or expectations of
reality both are useful
They can be recorded
discussions, maps, models or
plans...
A stand?alone component or
EBA added into existing
scenario building
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 39 p.
Whale-watching has recently developed into an important industry within the South Pacific islands region (Economists @ Large & Associates. 2008a). In particular, the presence of humpback whales at high latitudes during the winter months has become of great interest over the last 10 years (Schaffar and Garrigue. 2007). In the Kingdom of Tonga, whale-watching activities began in 1994 and focus on a small population of humpback whales utilising the waters around Vava'u as their
It is becoming clear that there is a fair amount of small plastic distributed in the oceans and on beaches worldwide, not surprising given its durability and floatability. Marine debris is often ingested by animals such as sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds. Items such as lighters and small plastic pieces may look like food to an animal, or have an animal's natural food attached to it. Debris may also be ingested accidentally with actual food items. Exactly how many of them die each year due to marine debris ingestion is not
known.
Available online
Nauru is a small country comprising a single island with an area of only 22 km2. The island is having severe difficulties in achieving a safe and adequate supply of potable water and suffers from pollution of local groundwater due to inadequate sanitation services. The problems have arisen from the collapse of the utility services when phosphate mining ceased, followed by a national financial crisis.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 6 Pages
This disposal project is the second stage (Phase II) of an AusAID-fiuided project developed in conjunction with South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to manage persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The Phase I project, which was implemented between April 1997 and April 2000. involved an inventory of hazardous chemicals, and a discussion of management options for obsolete chemicals and containers, in the PICs. Although many obsolete agricultural and other chemicals can be disposed of safely locally, others cannot.
This environmental impact assessment reports on the proposed seawall construction and land development project of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is to be located at Tabonikabauea in Bairiki, and will be implemented by Kramer Group (Vanuatu) Limited, and local contractors.
1 copy|Also available online
Call Number: VF 7784 [EL]
Physical Description: 35p. : 29cm.
Most marine coastal conservation efforts have been species - focused and sea turles have received special attention, efforts having been made to boost depleted populations by protecting nesting beaches and hatchlings.For all the dedication,time and money applied to turtle conservation projects their effectiveness in the South Pacific region remains
In 1981, the Isabel provincial government first recognized the importance of the Arnavon Islands as a nesting ground for Hawksbill turtles, and designated the islands as a Wildlife
Sanctuary. At that time, however, the government did not adequately recognize the local communities' rights and the project failed. In 1989, the South Pacific Regional Environment
Programme (SPREP) collaborated with the Solomon Islands government and the Ministry of Natural Resources (now the Ministry of Forestry, Environment and Conservation or MFEC) to
The 7th Conference of the Pacific Community and 41st Meeting of
the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) took place at SPC headquarters in Noumea from 1 to 8 November. The Conference of the Pacific Community SPC's governing body - is held every two years and is immediately preceded by the meeting of CRGA, which makes recommendations to the Conference.
Call Number: 341.246 SEC
Physical Description: 60 p. ; 29 cm
The Regional Wetlands Action Plan (RWAP) for the Pacific Islands (SPREP, 1999) was endorsed by the 26 member countries and territories of SPREP. The Action Plan contained 28 priority actions in the areas of management, capacity building, research and monitoring for wetland ecosystems. In 2002, a formal memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and SPREP to promote the importance of wetland conservation in the Pacific Islands region.
This draft model law has been designed specifically for countries which have already enacted
comprehensive marine pollution legislation, and in particular the model Marine Pollution
Prevention Act prepared by SPC and SPREP, and last revised in 2002. For countries that have not
enacted marine pollution legislation of that nature, it is recommended that instead of using this
draft model law, consideration be given to enacting comprehensive marine pollution legislation
Sea temperatures in many tropical regions have increased by almost 1°C over the past 100 years and are currently increasing at 1 ~ 2°C per century. Satellite and compiled in situ observations of sea surface temperatures have greatly increased the ability to detect anomalous and persistent warm water and are being widely used to predict climate change, coral bleaching and mortality.