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Climate finance has been a key topic in recent international climate negotiations. Understanding how much and what type of finance is available to advance lowcarbon growth and combat climate change at a global level is critical to scaling up finance and ensuring that resources are used effectively.

There is now a strong consensus that climate change presents an urgent challenge to the well-being of all countries, particularly the poorest countries and the poorest people in them. Even if efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are successful, it is no longer possible to avoid some degree of global warming and climate change. The primary direct effects of climate change are an increase in droughts and floods, more seasonal peaks in river flow, and a higher probability of stronger tropical storms. The poorest countries and communities are likely to suffer the most because of their geographical location, tow incomes, and low institutional capacity, as well as their greater reliance on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture.

Pacific Island communities are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters — ranging from tropical cyclones, drought, floods, storm surges and tsunamis. Each year, these events result in significant loss of life, the destruction of homes, public infrastructure and livelihoods and the reversal of hard-won economic gains. Recently, deadly tsunami and earthquake events in the Indian Ocean region have focused the attention of the world community, particularly those living in small islands and coastal regions, to the need for greater vigilance in disaster prevention and preparedness. This is all the more important as evidence mounts that climate change will exacerbate the incidence of extreme events and potential disasters.

The impact of natural disasters and their potential to increase as a result of climate change have received greater attention in recent years. With an onset of strategies, action plans and frameworks have been put in place internationally. At a regional level, the strategies address this growing concern about the risks of disasters and the uncertain hazards from climate change.

Sandwatch provides a framework for children, youth and adults, with the help of teachers and local communities, to work together to critically evaluate the problems and conflicts facing their beach environments, and to develop sustainable approaches to address these issues. It also helps beaches become more resilient to climate change. The preliminary chapters of this publication focus on how to get started with Sandwatch activities and examine ways to address climate change impacts. The principle aim of this publication is to document the Sandwatch methodology: monitoring, analysing, sharing and taking action. An activities-orientated approach is used to provide step-by-step instructions to cover monitoring methods and data analysis, including observation and recording, erosion and accretion, beach composition, human activities, beach debris, water quality, waves, longshore currents, plants and animals. The activities are related to (a) sustainable development issues, including: beach ownership, mining beaches for construction material, conflict resolution between different beach users, pollution, conservation of endangered species, and (b) climate change adaptation issues: sea level rise, rising temperatures, ocean acidification and increased extreme events. Ways to share findings and create a Sandwatch network are detailed including methods such as the use of local media, websites, social networking and video production. Finally, ways are discussed to design, plan and implement a Sandwatch project to fulfill one or all of the following criteria: (a) addressing a particular beach-related issue, (b) enhancing the beach, and (c) promoting climate change adaptation.

Threatened island nations : legal implications of rising seas and changing climate