Adapting to climate change in the Pacific: The PACC Programme.

Abstract

The Pacific islands region is highly vulnerable to climate change. The vast majority of the islands’ inhabitants live on or near to the coast, including in low lying areas or river flood plains. Sea level rise, storm surges and severe weather are therefore a common threat to homes, communities, livelihoods, infrastructure and national economies. National and local economies of Pacific islands rely heavily on natural resources, which are extremely vulnerable to climate variability and change. Many islands, particularly the low-lying atolls, have limited water resources and depend on rainwater for their needs, a strategy which is increasingly precarious as the climate changes