Pacific Islands Conference on Climate Change, Summary of Day Four

From: Hiroshi Kann Tamada (htamada@alum.MIT.EDU)
Date: Wed Apr 26 2000 - 18:18:46 EDT

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    SUMMARY DAY FOUR
    6 April 2000

    Breakout Session One: Integrated Approaches
    Rapporteurs: Randy Thaman and Henry Taiki

    UNDP Climate Change Initiatives for the Asia-Pacific Region and Related
    Capacity Building Activities - Fiu Mataese Elisara-Laulu and Tom
    Twining-Ward

    The presentation was in 3 parts:
    1. Overall UNDP Climate Change Initiatives
    2. UNDP and Climate Change in the Pacific
    3. Climate change and Capacity Building Activities

    Part I: UNDP Climate Change Initiatives

    UNDP is the world's largest provider of multilateral assistance for
    sustainable human development. The main objectives of UNDP initiatives
    in the area of climate change are:

    (a) To identify, finance and carry out "win-win" programmes and policies
    that stimulates maximise sustainable development.
    (b) To provide technical backstopping and capacity building to
    developing countries and utilise the new mechanisms under the UNFCCC.
    (c) To build network partnership with the UN systems, international
    organisations, NGOs, academics and the private sectors to raise
    awareness and initiate dialogue on climate change.

    Climate change is an integrated part of UNDP global sustainable human
    development and energy sector activities entailing for activities

    (a) National sustainable development activities (energy and forestry).
    (b) Activities for implementing UNFCCC.
    (c) Capacity building for new mechanisms under the UNFCCC.
    (d) International dialogue and policy development (on-going UNDP
    programme and projects support effort to mitigate GHG emissions under
    one or more of the above).

    Within the context of UNFCCC (Kyoto Protocol) UNDP work on climate
    change issues, both at national and regional levels:
    (a) 1992 - 1999, UNDP's Regional Bureau of Asia and the Pacific (RBAP)
    committed about USD860 million (IPF, Regional Funds and GEF) for
    climate change related issues in Asia/Pacific region with main focus on
    energy and energy conservation
    (b) About 65 climate change related projects are currently at different
    planning stages

    Part II: UNDP and climate change in the Pacific

    * PMI/90/002
    * Capacity building
    * PICCAP
    * PICCAP "Top Up"
    * REBARE
    * Commitment to continue assistance under the Pacific Regional Framework
    Strategy under development during this conference.

    PICCAP
    Two PICs (PNG and Tonga) have implemented their own climate change
    enabling activities projects.

    PICCAP "Top-Up"
    PICCAP has build substantial capacity building, but capacity should be
    further improved and strengthen and momentum maintained.

    PICs requested additional USD1 million to extend PICCAP for another year
    and is currently processed by UNDP.

    Removing barriers for adaptation of renewable energies in the Pacific.

    As part of the renewable mitigation strategies under PICCAP, PICs
    decided to persue the development of a renewable energy technology
    project through UNDP Second Phase of PICCAP under the Pacific Regional
    Framework Strategy. UNDP is committed to continue the support for
    climate change activities in the region well into the millennium, and to
    assist the countries, through GEF in developing a Second Phase of
    PICCAP.

    Espen Ronneberg - UN Department for Economic and social Affairs/Small
    Islands Developiing States Unit.

    * Stressed the need to develop the capacity to identify adaptations to
    climate change, climate vulnerability and sea-level rise in SIDS, and
    the need for assistance in this respect.
    * In terms of current capabilities, there have been vulnerability and
    needs assessments, and most countries have a good understanding of their
    vulnerability and the impacts, few have developed the ability to
    implement adaptive strategies.
    * It was stressed that due to the diversity and heterogeneity of SIDS
    that there needed to be a range of options and strategies for
    adaptation.
    * SIDS delegations to UNFCCC meetings are often small and the membership
    changes; because of this, there is often an absence of institutional
    memory and continuity. Continuity of AOSIS positions has, however, been
    strengthened by representation by regional institutions at international
    meeting.
    * There have been problems with excessive burdens on small numbers of
    staff of national and international environmental agencies that have
    many other responsibilities, and problems related to the downsizing of
    environmental departments and a weakening of the overall capacity in
    both the general area of environment and more specifically with respect
    to input into the climate change debate and negotiations, and
    implemetation of adaptation programs.
    * Assistance programs need to be established to strengthen national
    programs, to establish and strengthen networks of managers and climate
    change officials throughout the region, to establish appropriate
    research capacity
    * The role of the UN SIDS Unit will be to strengthen relationships and
    act as a liaison with the FCCC Secretariat and other relevant UN
    agencies, continue liaison with AOSIS and to strengthen a programmatic
    approach to assist SIDS.
    * The SIDS Net, although working well in the past, is now seeking new
    funding, to strengthen it role in disseminating information about small
    island states.

    Marcel Boisard - UNITAR

    * UNITAR has 125 different training programmes globally, many of which
    have dealt with environmental issues in areas under the major UN
    Conventions (e.g., climate change, biodiversity, etc.), but their main
    area of focus has been in the area of chemical waste and pollution.
    * One of their main areas of emphasis is linking science and policy. One
    problem is that policy has to be made at the national level whereas
    science is often carried out and information held at the international
    level. There is thus a need to bring these two together.
    * There is also the problem that good scientific information often takes
    decades to acquire, whereas policy must be made now.
    * Although partnership and collaboration in the South Pacific region is
    very strong , collaboration needs to be strengthened with international
    bodies, because they are the bodies that often have the up-to-date
    scientific information that is needed as a basis for informed policy
    based on good science. It was stressed that in this sense dependency is
    not bad; we are all dependent in some positive way.
    * In terms of capacity building, it was stressed that there was a need
    for national assessment of their capacity building and training needs
    based on consultation between all stakeholders (government, private
    industry and NGOs)
    * It was also stressed that there is a critical need to strengthen our
    negotiating skills. It was stressed that scientists can pay a very
    important role in helping to prepare briefs, set agendas', etc, and that
    scientists must provide the scientific underpinnings or lawyers,
    politicians, economists and other persons who often head negotiation
    teams.
    * It was also stressed that SIDS have very unique problems related to
    the CCC, and that the Kyoto Protocol is not really satisfying their
    needs, is the best instrument that we have at the time, and that we must
    have good negotiators who can maximise the benefits obtained by SIDS
    under the Framework.

    Iosefa Maiava - Forum Secretariat

    * It was stressed that there is a need for holistic integrated
    approaches to develop which include whole government and whole region
    approaches. It was stressed that we need a clear decision making
    structure.
    * The Forum, as the political and economic forum of the independent
    states of the Pacific Ocean, has an interest in everything that has
    relevance to development, and has had a very long-term interest in
    climate change issues.
    * It was stressed that there is a very strong system of regional
    organisations (e.g., Forum Secretariat, SPREP, SOPAC, USP, SPC, TCSP,
    FFA, PIDP), and that there is a coordinating mechanism CROP (Council of
    Regional Organizations in the Pacific), with representation by the heads
    of the regional organizations.
    * CROP has established Working Groups on Land-based Resources, Marine
    Resources, Trade and Private Sector, Agriculture, Information
    Technology, Gender.
    * The Forum has also been involved with SPREP and other regional
    organisations the International Waters Programme under the GEF, and
    coordinated oceans policy for the region will be the focus of the CROP
    marine resources working group.
    * CROP has the capacity to involve any specialists.
    * If we want something to be country-driven and owned, we must include
    all interest groups, government, private sector and NGOs in the country.
    * There is a difference between supporting regional organizations and
    providing support for regional mechanisms.
    * It was also stressed that one complementing factor is that many
    subsidies, including subsidies on technology transfer, fisheries
    subsidies, etc., might be challenged and rendered illegal under the WTO.
    Thus we must know what our trade negotiators are doing. Because of this
    we need to consider the establishment of a "Green fund" that could be
    uncoupled from the WTO areas of responsibilities, so that such
    programmes and subsidies cannot be challenged.
    * In summary, to have a truly integrated policy, we must work together
    to develop this integrated framework.

    Discussion

    * It was stressed that whereas in the past all AOSIS submissions were
    circulated to all the members, this had ceased and had in fact eroded an
    integrated approach. The SIDS rep stated that they would discuss the
    possibility of how they could improve their ability to inform member
    states of their current positions and negotiations.
    * It was stressed that although capacity building was needed at the
    regional and national levels, it was perhaps even more urgently needed
    at the local levels in both local communities and NGOs who are actively
    working to implement initiatives in a wide range of areas related to
    climate change and its potential impacts (e.g., agriculture, fisheries,
    environment, forestry). It was also suggested that NGOs should be more
    involved in conferences such as this. It was suggested that the
    involvement of NGOs and local stakeholders could best be involved in
    workshops that would be held at the local level.
    * It was also stressed that there are advantages of the focusing
    capacity building at the nationals level in that it is easier to involve
    all stakeholders (government, private sector, NGOs), and that capacity
    building priorities should be identified by the stakeholders in terms of
    what they want or need to prepare them to effectively address. This is
    made even more important because different related activities may be
    addressed by many different agencies that all need to be included in
    capacity building exercises, which is very difficult if
    meetings/training workshops are held at the international level.
    * It was stressed, however, that it was not an either or problem, and
    that there are some activities that are best carried out nationally and
    some that can be done best done at the regional or international levels

    Tom Wichman - Cook Islands (Technology for mitigation)

    * During the last five years, the Cook Islands have imported an average
    of eight million New Zealand dollars of fossil fuel into the country on
    a yearly basis. This has resulted in 47 Gg of actual C02 emissions. The
    Cook Islands is in fact the highest importer of fossil fuels (on a per
    population basis) within the Pacific region.
    * A current global concern is the excess of Green house gases in the
    atmosphere. This excess is caused by human activities. In the Pacific,
    the main contributor to CO2 emissions is the use of fossil fuels. In the
    Cook Island the main sources of emissions are from jet fuel and diesel.
    Most energy is produced using diesel generators.
    * The types of options that the Cook Islands have followed to address
    these issues include: replacement of all worn out generators, ensuring
    that all generators are running at efficient levels, encourage the use
    of renewable energy or hybrid power generation.
    * One example of renewable energy use in the Cook Islands can be found
    in the Northern group island of Pukapuka where a Cook Islands Government
    project has seen the island become almost completely solarised, with the
    only exception being a backup diesel generator for the hospital.
    * A successful example of increasing efficiency can be found in our
    island of Mitiaro, where under Forum Secretariat funding every
    household replaced incandescent light bulbs with more efficient compact
    fluorescent bulbs, thus reducing the consumption of energy by 60 - 80%,
    which helped to reduce our total emissions and resulted in real savings
    in electrical bills to the Mitiaro consumer.
    * The Pacific Islands are often used as a dumping ground for obsolete,
    inefficient, and out of date appliances or equipment. Both donors and
    recipients need to be made aware - if they are going to donate or
    receive anything, they need to make sure it is appropriate and
    up-to-date. In order to increase energy efficiency an attempt has been
    made to look at the standards of electrical imports to the Cook
    Islands. For example, refrigerators made for New Zealand use are not
    appropriate for use in the tropics.A regional effort would also ensure
    that donors do not simply look for other islands to dump these goods.=20
    Together we need to ensure that both imported and donated goods meet set
    standards of efficiency.
    * An example of locally developed appropriate technology is a Coconut
    Oil Expeller. This machine produces fresh coconut oil and can also
    produce oil from copra. At the moment, copra is shipped out of the Cook
    Islands to Tahiti or Samoa to be processed. The return to growers,
    therefore, is very low. This machine allows oil to be produced on the
    island, increasing the economic return to growers. Not only does this
    machine offer an alternative energy source to diesel, but it also offers
    sources of employment, import substitution and income generation to Cook
    Islanders. This low cost technology is suited for any coconut producing
    island.
    * In the Atiu Hostel the Cook Islands is testing a hot water heater,
    which uses a heat pump, and sources its energy from the air. A normal
    solar heater only heats water when the sun is shining. This heater,
    however, is capable of heating water 24 hours a day, even during rainy
    periods or the evenings, because its energy is drawn from the air. As
    long as the temperature is above 0 degrees Celsius, there is energy
    available in the air that can be transferred to heat water.
    * In summary, it was stressed that there is room for improvement in
    energy production, efficiency and technology. If these improvements are
    adopted there will be a reduction in the emissions of GHG's and an
    economic saving in fossil fuel imports. Although the emissions of GHG in
    the Pacific islands are very small, we should endeavour to reduce them,
    not only due to the climatic impacts, but also for economic reasons.

    Michael Ariki -Solomon Islands (Gaps, Needs and Capacity Vulnerability
    -Building in Vulnerability and Assessment in Solomon Islands)

    * It was stressed that vulnerability due to climate change can't be
    separated from social and environmental conditions, including population
    growth, changes in food production systems, overexploitation of marine
    and forestry resources and land tenure.
    * The sensitive sectors that were identified include subsistence and
    commercial agriculture, human health, marine resources and natural
    resources.
    * Needs include a national policy framework, capacity building and
    institutional strengthening, and public awareness and education, so that
    the public can actively participate in decisionmaking
    * There Gaps are gaps related to lack of understanding of climate change
    scenarios, potential impacts, current land use practices and changes
    related to climate change, understanding of erosional and sedimentation
    processes, on forests and mangrove covers and their present conditions,
    and population and migration figures, projections for changes in climate
    and sea level, frequency of El Ni=F1o and tropical cyclones, impacts of
    variation of climate and current changes on marine resources,

    Joseph Konno - Federated States of Micronesia (National Communication of
    V & A Assessment)

    * Studies have been carried out in the many of the islands of FSM which
    focused mainly on coastal areas. The projections that were used were
    that temperature will increase, rainfall will decrease, droughts will
    increase, seal-level will rise according to IPCC predictions, and
    extreme events will increase.
    * Atolls and low-lying coastal areas area already very vulnerable which
    is made worse by human environmental degradation.
    * The water systems on small islands will be particularly vulnerable,
    and FSM was declared a disaster area during the most recent El Ni=F1o
    event and the associated drought.
    * There was also concern over the loss of taro production and breadfruit
    during the last El Ni=F1o events.
    * Areas where information is needed is on the effects of El Ni=F1o on tun=
    a
    stocks, which showed to move outside of FSM's EEZ.
    * Adaptive options include the need for more information, including the
    documentation and use of traditional adaptive strategies.
    * There is a lack of basic data and lack of access to some technical
    data held by overseas bodies
    * There has been a loss of capacity due to government downsizing.
    * It was stressed at the recent National Economic Summit in the
    promotion of sustainable development that climate change was seen as a
    priority issue.
    * Challenges included the need to implement existing policies, the
    integration of climate concerns into the national and state economic
    plans, and the need to build capacity.

    Bill Hare - Greenpeace

    * It was stressed that caution needed to be taken in terms of granting
    credits for the establishment of carbon sinks, in the form of the
    protection of existing forests and in the establishment of plantation
    forests because these actions may actually allow industrialized nations
    to continue polluting, and that the granting of credits do not address
    the root causes of global warming and may even lead to deforestation in
    the form of the replacement of slow-growing native forests with fast
    growing plantation forests.
    * Forest themselves are likely to experience significant damages as a
    consequence of rapid climate change, e.g., dieback of Amazon forest
    * There was also concern as to whether the sinks can really be
    permanent, and who pays or has the liability if the sink goes up in
    smoke.
    * The biodiversity or conservation potential of sinks may be overstated
    for a variety of reasons. Because of perverse incentive where because
    natural forest sequester carbon rather slowly, this is often an
    incentive to replace natural forests with plantation forests, the
    establishment of sinks might lead of a transplantation of an activity of
    forest degradation to another place, and sinks might expand, not reduce
    , the ecological footprint of developed nations on the planet.
    * Establishment of sinks may lead to the displacement of landowners and
    their access to the forest as their lifeline.
    * CDM sinks do not lead to the reduction of emission and related health
    risks at the source.
    * Forest generated carbon offsets are likely to weaken the pressure for
    changes in the energy sector.
    * CDM sink credits are in effect not gained for clean energy and
    transport systems technologies in developing countries.
    * Companies are proposing to use genetically modified tree plantation,
    e.g. Peugot are clearing large areas of tropical rainforest in an effort
    to plant fast growing ecalyptus species to get credit for a carbon
    offset.
    * What is really needed are projects that are environmentally sound and
    sustainable and projects that really assist the transitions to low or no
    carbon energy sources.

    Discussion

    * It was suggested that if we really want to protect people against
    global warming the CDM should be used to give people credits or finance
    for coastal reforestation projects, because there are few real
    opportunities for PICs to benefit from the CDM
    * It was suggested that plantation forests may play a great role in
    reducing emissions, but the reality is that we are talking about the
    Kyoto Protocol within which when someone gets credits for establishing a
    sink some developed country gets credits to release more greenhouse
    gases.
    * In response to the questions as to whether there are restriction about
    were and how sinks can be established and whether there are restrictions
    to those projects that replace native forests with plantation forests,
    it was reported that there are no regulations at present. In response to
    the question of whether credits could be given for coastal reforestation
    projects, although there would undoubtedly be benefits, it would not
    solve the basic problem of reducing emission so that climate change can
    be minimized in the future so would probably.
    * In response to a question about the feasibility of wind power in the
    Cook Islands, it was suggested that in the northern Cooks, which are
    near the equator, there is little potential, but in the Southern Cooks,
    where the Tradewinds blow more consistently (e.g., in Rarotonga and
    Mangaia,) there is greater potential
    * It was suggested that there is also a need to strengthen GIS
    capabilities to document changes, e.g., in Palau, where they was a moss
    of 30% of the forest cover during the 1997-98 drought and loss 1300 of
    their taro patches, affecting 30% of the population in the past two
    years.

    Thursday April 6, Breakout Session Two

    Vulnerability and Adaptation, Capacity Building and Country Reports
    (Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Marshall Islands)

    Chair: Nakibae Teuatabo, SPREP support: Chalapan Kaluwin, Rapp: Nancy
    Lewis and Ian Goodwin

    Presentation 1: Leone Limalevu - World Bank Study for Fiji

    This was an integrated economic impact study that included impact
    assessment and economic valuation and a capacity building component. A
    number of organizations were involved including: PICCAP, WB, IGCI,
    SPREP, SOPAC, CCIERO, and others. The focus was Viti Levu.

    A large team had to be assembled in a relatively short time including:
    scientists, computer modellers, various sector specialists, economists,
    stakeholders and policy makers.=20

    The output (valuation of impact) is intended to provide information to
    the public and to policy makers on the relative magnitude or cost of
    possible impacts of climate change so that decisions could be made to
    act or delay action. The output has to be concise, not too small in
    scope or too technical, visual and use the appropriate language.=20
    (Graphics prize: great cartoon of man drowning flashed across the
    screen!)

    Conclusions:=20
    Studies should be country driven.
    All should include capacity building and training.
    Must ensure adequate human and financial resources.
    Ownership and intellectual property issues need to be clarified at onset
    because of multiple partners.
    Partners must be committed to capacity building and technology transfer
    to the national team.
    Awareness of imposed time-frame is critical. Outputs are government
    documents and time must be allowed for government to vet.
    Prioritize the selection of experts; the choice being national,
    regional, then international.
    All parameters that are used to build impact models should be clear so
    that there is an understanding of the limitations of the assumptions.
    Must also ensue that good data on vulnerability and adaptation are
    available.=20

    Total monetized loss $313,935 million -10 per cent of GDP, but total
    damage non monetized is more than that - 25% of GDP.

    Paul Kench Univ. of Waikato, Recent Modelling Developments for V & A
    Assessnent in the Pacific

    Presented the PacClim Model - an integrated assessment model of Pacific
    climate impacts on a fictitious island developed for PICCAP. They have
    developed a prototype for Fiji, FijiClim. (There was demonstration of
    this after the session).

    The model integrates global mean temperature and sea level projections,
    national and regional climate change scenario generator and sectoral
    impact models. It can capture information from various GCM's. Uses the
    MAGICC output for temperature and sea level rise. Sectors include:
    coastal, water, agriculture and health in user defined models.=20
    It can test different scenarios and project into future and then feed
    into sector imapct models. It also includes sensitivity analysis. An
    example was given of coastal impacts.

    Model outputs can underpin policy development and planning for
    adaptation to climate change. They are useful for landuse planning in a
    broader environmental management context.=20

    Future Needs: Technical development and testing of impact models,
    incorporate new developments into IAM. For better policy linkages,
    capacity of end users must be enhanced.

    Nelson Rarua, Vanuatu asked if the model could be made available for the
    rest of the island countries. Apparently it is a issue of time and
    financial resources.

    Mere Pulea, The Role of the University of the South Pacific in Climate
    Change in the Context of Sustainable Development.

    USP is a regional institution owned by 12 regional governments all of
    whom have representation on Council.

    In the Pacific the adverse effects of climate change and seal level rise
    are critically important. Pacific nations have been negotiating national
    and regional treaties since the 1980's and they have been very involved
    with the climate change convention but at the national level there are
    often competing issues that seem to take precedence. There is also a
    lack of wide public awareness of climate change issues as indicated in
    this meeting.

    With respect to capacity building, USP's role is in teaching. As the
    regional university it is the main source of human resource development
    for the Pacific. Many of the participants in this meeting are USP
    graduates. Dr. Pulea presented several tables of schools/programs at USP
    with relevant subcomponents, e.g., School of Pure and Applied Science,
    School of Social and Economic Development, School of Agriculture, School
    of Law, Marine Studies Program. A large number of degrees, diplomas and
    certificates are offered.

    USP is also a major research institution with a number of organized
    research units, e.g., SPAS, SSED, SOH, IAS, SAO/IRETA

    Last May a Post grad certificate in vulnerability and adaptation
    assessment was approved. USP also has an advisory group for the
    environment to advise the Administration. =20

    A Pacific Center for Environment and Sustainable Development was
    approved in 1999.
    It will focus on vulnerability and assessment, conservation and=20
    environmental science post graduate certificate, and a climate change
    and sea level rise project.

    USP hosts START Oceania and the Fiji chapter of the Human Dimensions
    Project.

    USP has just opened USP 2000 - a telecom facility with video and audio
    links to 12 countries that greatly enhances their teaching capacity.

    Biman Prasad, Fiji's New Sustainable Development Bill: Implications for
    the adaptation and level of political response to climate change.

    The document is complete and now in Parliament. It is a comprehensive
    document and compares well with international laws and the legislation
    nominally adopted in developed countries. There are implications for
    the cost of implementation. While there is no mention of climate
    change, it is comprehensive and indicative of public and political will.

    It is noteworthy that while climate change was included in the initial
    document, it was not it the final version. This is indicative of lack
    of national awareness and other political priorities. The original bill
    was seen to be too long and complicated, it is an important start and
    can and will be modified in the future.

    In accounting, the expenditure needed to restore environmental capital
    and to avert the destruction of environmental capital must be included.
    Countries should have an economic policy unit to work with scientists.

    Jon Barnett, Investigating the Policy Problem of Uncertainty=20

    Uncertainty is a central issue in climate change research and key with
    respect to policy and decision making. There is a considerable body of
    work on uncertainty.

    The uncertainty of both impacts and of solutions presents significant
    policy challenges. It is critical that we study uncertainty in its own
    right and consider uncertainty with respect to both physical and social
    impacts as well as policy responses.

    Where impacts can not be anticipated. Resilience must be built into the
    system.
    The implications of resilience for policy include:
    Monitoring the changes in social and ecological indicators
    Public participation
    Adaptive management
    Human resource development
    Assess social vulnerability=20

    In discussion it was noted that politicians make decisions with
    uncertainty all the time - the issue may be more critical for
    international negotiations.

    Nelson Rarua, Vanuatu Climate and Sea Level Change Issues and concerns:
    Vanuatu=20

    Vanuatu sits in the heart of the cyclone zone. This has significant
    implications for many sectors of the economy. Some of the islands are
    new volcanic islands without protective barrier reefs.

    Progress: Initial national communication submitted and a national
    implementation strategy developed.

    Needs: Awareness - education of schools and rural communities - and
    policy makers; data collection network; GHC emissions; vulnerability
    information. Human resource capacity needs to be developed, skills,
    software and data collection and analysis. Climate change activities
    also need to be mainstreamed and gain government recognition.

    Encourage PI countries to sign and ratify the Kyoto Protocol and
    reiterate the position on absolute emissions reductions by Annex 1
    Parties and support the speedy implementation of Articles 4.8 and 4.9 of
    UNFCCC.

    The Framework will and should have an international impact.

    Lee Jacklick, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Adaptations and Response
    Options to Climate and Environmental Changes Water Resources in the
    Marshall Islands

    Water resources in the Marshall Islands are dependent on infiltration
    and the G-H lens, rainwater harvest from the airport runway (Majuro -50
    M gallon capacity) and catchment from private and public buildings.=20
    Resources and options on outer island are extremely limited. A 1992
    study highlighted the vulnerability.=20

    What are the response options to accelerated sea level rise? Two primary
    options are protection and accommodation. On Majuro most protection
    attempts have not had an EIA and are inappropriate. Traditional
    strategies might be more appropriate but none have been identified.=20

    Hillia Vavae, Tuvalu, Brief Highlights on climate change and sea level
    activities in Tuvalu

    Tuvalu has a NTF gauge and staff have participated in NTF training.
    Communication is not always easy. The 80 months of data (7 and a half
    years) suggest that there has been an average a negative 14.5 mm annual
    change. This would equate to a total 11.12 cm decline over that
    period. However local observations -and local people - know that
    coastal land has been lost on the coast and some small islands have
    disappeared. How do we explain this?? Two El Ninos occurred during this
    period. Tuvalu is having serious water problems. The situation in
    Tuvalu is better during El Nino cycles.=20

    What are the options for the people of Tuvalu??=20

    In the discussion session it was noted that there have been two and a
    half days of science, but less time allowed for substantive discussion
    by Pacific Island participants.

    Rarotonga, Cook Islands
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