Publication

This document is intended as a resource to be used when familiarizing staff of the World Bank about the evolving climate change agenda, covering the issues of science, impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, and more broadly the policy agenda. It is based on a targetted analysis of a study, Pacific Islands: Adapting to Climate Change , recently undertaken by the Bank.

There is general agreement that Pacific Island people, ecosystems and economies are amongst those most vulnerable to extreme events and climate variability, and existing risks will be heightened by climate change. But the specific consequences of climate change are highly uncertain and the economic consequences largely unknown, as are the possible costs of adaptation. Two detailed case studies were undertaken in order to determine the integrated economic and non-monetary costs of the collective impacts of climate change. The resulting information provided a sound basis for demonstrating the extent and specific nature of the adaptation policies and measures required if Pacific Island Countries are to choose a development path that decreases their vulnerability to climate change while also maintaining or enhancing the quality of the human and physical environment, and safeguarding the future well being of the people and the life supporting systems on which they depend.