Pacific islands face global warming threat

There is evidence that sea levels are rising.
In fact, the levels may even be accelerating.

In the Pacific Island region, official scientific figures state that levels have risen between 100 mm to 150 mm in the last 50 years. Global sea levels are said to have risen during the 20th century by about 170 mm and are currently rising at a rate of about 3.1 mm a year – and rates seem to be increasing.

These are just some of the facts discussed at the recent “Island and Ocean Forum” and Symposium held under the sponsorship of the Ocean Policy Research Foundation and the Nippon Foundation on 21-22 January 2010 in Tokyo.

Top global experts gathered at the symposium to discuss an important range of issues confronting Pacific island states, including increasing coastal vulnerability and climate change.

For example, Time Magazine said in an article about one Pacific Island, Tepuka Savillivli, as far back as its 20-27 August 2001 issue: “ The islet of Tepuka Savilivili is evidence of the effects of climate change: encroaching tides have erased sand banks & coconut trees, which die and collapse into the sea.” A year later, a visitor to the island said all that was left of the formerly picturesque atoll were some wave splashed, submerged rocks.

Dr Arthur Webb, Ocean and Islands Program Manager for the Secretariat of the Pacific Island Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), said, “Yes, the Pacific islands are vulnerable and influenced by climate change effects, but the challenge is to work on fundamentals to adapt to climate change stress.”

Dr Webb points out that some islands choose to live in harmony with their coastal environment by protecting coral reefs and other coastal resources. This holds the effects of global warming in check to a certain extent. However, other islands are disturbing the ecology with such practices as near shore dredging that causes weakening of natural beach systems, and creates marine water quality changes.

“Pacific islands can do little to stop sea level rise, coral bleaching, or other climate change impacts. However, great benefits can be realized if development partners assist to address vital information gaps and act on existing issues of poverty, poor planning, and lack of capacity and environmental stress,” says Webb.

SOPAC is assisting with these challenges. It is an inter-governmental, regional organization that provides services to promote sustainable development in the countries it serves, especially the threatened island states.

Concretely, this means trying to provide pragmatic solutions to such problems as environmental management, natural hazard and disaster management, vulnerability assessments to help islands adapt, and advice on resources uses.

This breaks down into three key program areas: Ocean and Islands Program, Community Lifelines Program and Community Risk Program.

Ocean and Islands is an integrated program focused on research, development and management of non-living resources in ocean and island systems, specifically related to seabed resources, energy, maritime boundary delimitation and monitoring of ocean processes.

Community Lifelines is a diversified program that strengthens national capacities in energy, water and sanitation, information and communications technologies.

Community Risk is a comprehensive program aimed at reduction of community vulnerability through improved hazard assessment and risk management.

Monitoring ocean processes

Saving potable water resources

Moving homes to safer sites

SOPAC member countries are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. American Samoa, French Polynesia, Tokelau and New Caledonia are associate members. Any island member country can request assistance from SOPAC.

Benefits are practical and immediate. Island member countries have access to basic geological knowledge. Using this information leads to improvements in land and ocean use. This in turn contributes to improved health through water and sanitation, wealth generation through the development of mineral resources, hazard and disaster management, and sustainable development by taking into account the geo-environmental impacts of development.

Dr Webb is cautiously optimistic about the effects of climate change saying, “there is a lot than can be done to protect the environment and improve the conditions of the Pacific islands, but this requires commitment throughout the region – and the world.”