Climate Change

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Kiribati—In the front line of climate change.
Photographer: Lorrie Graham

Long term prospects, including the very viability of some Pacific island countries, will depend on how the world responds to climate change. These countries are not big polluters - for every 5,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted in 2004, the Pacific islands and Timor-Leste emitted just one tonne. Some of the small island states are especially vulnerable to changing rainfall patterns and temperature increases, the potential for extreme weather events and in the long-term rising sea levels.  Pacific islands leaders have identified the need to adapt to avoid the worst impacts.