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Climate change may be the single most important challenge to human societies in the 21st century. Changes to the environmental factors that govern the eartM biological systems have flow-on effects for almost ever)' aspect of human societies. Coral reef ecosystems are especially susceptible to climate change and recent predictions have suggested that coral reefs will be seriously degraded by the changing conditions of the worlds tropical oceans.

Tuvalu, a non-annex I party, signed and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in March 1994. This Initial Communication describes the context for considerations of the impacts of climate change, provided by the natural and human systems in the country. This background information is followed a sectoral analysis of GHG emissions for the country. Tuvalu's vulnerability to climate change and sea level rise is then analysed in relation to the environmental changes expected for the country under two climate change models for "best guess" and "high" scenarios. The complex interactions of other environmental and socio- economic factors with the expected effects of climate change are examined to provide an overall assessment of the expected effects of climate change in Tuvalu. The final section of this document deals with the steps being taken in the country towards limiting emissions and adaptation to the expected changes due to climate change.

Niue consists of a single uplifted coral atoll with a unique rugged coastline. It is situated in the Southwest Pacific Ocean within the Polynesian cultural zone. The population of Niue was 2.088 at the 1977 population census, and is a declining population due to outward migration. Niue lies on the edge of the southern tropical cyclone belt, and has two distinct seasons, a hot wet season from November to March and a cool dry season from April to November. The economy is largely dependent on overseas aid. with no realistic prospect of economic self-reliance. However, there is a modest export production mainly comprising of taro and coconuts to New Zealand. Agriculture, fisheries and forestry are at subsistence levels with current government policy focusing on tourisim and private sector development. The predominant energy source is electricity and is provided by diesel powered generators. Although alternative energy sources have been investigated they are all currently under-utilised mainly due to the initial capital expense involved. Trade and tourism to Niue is hampered by transport. Currently there is a weekly flight to Auckland via Tonga serviced by Royal Tongan Airlines. There is a small concrete wharf at Alofi. the capital of Niue. however the channel is too small to be navigated by the larger ships. The larger container ship's cargo is transferred by 'lighters' on a monthly basis. Internal transport is mainly comprised of privately owned ships.

PNG is a country rich in natural resources, people and culture. It has a relatively large land mass with high mountain ranges, islands and atolls, a large scattered population and a complex system of customary land tenure. The economy is largely dominated by exports and incomes from mining and petroleum, agriculture, forestry, fishing and, to a lesser extent, construction and transport sectors. The broadly distributed access to the natural resource base provides for the basic needs of people, but not necessarily real growth per person.

The Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Programme (PICCAP) is a three-year climate change enabling activity involving 10 Pacific Island Countries (PICs): Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. PICCAP is designed to assist PICs in meeting their reporting requirements under Articles 4 and 12 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

The ten countries participating in the Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Programme (PICCAP)— Cook Islands. Federated States of Micronesia. Fiji. Kiribati. Marshall Islands. Nauru. Samoa. Solomon Islands. Tuvalu. Vanuatu recognise the importance of greenhouse gas mitigation and are committed to meeting their obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).