Republic of Palau : current and projected impacts of climate change

Abstract

Prior to its independence in 1994, the Republic of Palau was a United Nations Trusteeship under the administration of the United States. Palau successfully completed negotiations with the United States for a Compact of Free Association in 1993. The Compact of Free Association establishing Palau as an independent Republic entered into force in 1994. The Republic of Palau is one of the youngest and smallest independent countries in the World. The total land area of Palau is approximately 363 square kilometers spread across some 450 islands. Due to Palau’s position in the Pacific, about 800 kilometers east of the Philippines and 800 kilometers north of Papua New Guinea, Palau has the greatest marine biodiversity among all the islands in the Oceania group.