CLIMATE: Micronesians, along with our other Pacific island neighbors, are among the lesser contributors to global warming, but at the same time we are at greatest risk from its negative impacts - especially rising sea levels. A number of islands in Micronesia, like in the rest of the Pacific, are small island states/territories and low-lying atolls. Although we have some volcanic or mountainous islands like Guam, Palau, Nauru, Pohnpei and CNMI, even in these places the majority of the population lives in the coastal areas. In the case of the FSM, much of the population is in the low-lying atolls of the outer islands. Micronesia has very limited land space or human and financial resources, which makes us particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels as they slowly continue to cover our islands.Another reason we are so vulnerable to climate change is that our life depends on the natural resources from the land and the sea. Natural resources and sectors like fisheries, tourism, and agriculture dominate our economy and will be directly affected by the changing climate.The Marshall Islands and Kiribati are particularly vulnerable, having been hit with storm surges that lead to coastal erosion and flooding. We also cannot forget the severe drought Pohnpei -- one of the wettest places on earth -- experienced in 1998. Scientists predict that climate change will see such extreme events become both more frequent and intense over the coming years and decades.

CONSERVATION: Completion of a solar-powered airport terminal and guest lodge in exchange for conserving 215 acres (six acres terrestrial and 209 acres marine) for a minimum of 10 years at the Enije Channel and Enije Island turtle nesting area. News of the project has been reported in local news sources. By the end of September the upstairs construction and roofing was almost complete and by November the entire building was 85% complete awaiting one final shipment of materials. The Ailuk Local Government council approved the fisheries management plan that includes ordinances for the protected areas in the Seacology agreement. They are waiting for the RMI Attorney General to sign papers as of November 2007.

REPORT: Pacific people face the greatest risk of becoming poorer, getting displaced from their homes and regressing in their development as a result of climate change. While the Small Islands Developing States in the Pacific are amongst the lowest carbon emitters, they will be the first to suffer from climate change. In the next ten years if the average temperature were to increase beyond two degrees Celsius sea level rises will see a number of Pacific islands disappear from the face of the map, the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report 2007/2008 warns.The report that was launched by the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Richard Dictus, in Suva today warns that climate change can result in annual damage costs of up to seven percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu.

WATER:: The World Health Organisation says the problem of water-borne diseases is far worse for low-lying small Pacific Island states, who remain highly susceptible to the effect of climate change.The WHO attended this month’s Asia Pacific Water Summit that was called to help solve the region’s water and sanitation problems.Steve Iddings, the environmental engineer for the WHO’s Pacific office in Fiji, says water sources in countries like Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands are more vulnerable to salt water, variable weather patterns and increased population demands.He says industries, like tourism, also increases the risk of pollution.

ENSO: As La Niña further develops, it is anticipated that a large north-south gradient of rainfall will become established in the RMI, whereby atolls in the southern portion of the RMI (e.g., Mili) have abundant rainfall, and atolls in the central and northern RMI are dry. Ironically, in the far south (Islands of Kiribati), the tongue of cold SST associated with La Niña should act to keep islands dry that are located within 3 degrees of the equator. The rainy season in the RMI extends through December, with October the wettest month of all at many locations. The rainfall deficits of the past few months (especially in the central and northern RMI) are worrisome, but there could still be abundant rainfall before the 2008 dry season begins. The worst-case scenario is that the rainfall during November and December is below normal, and many atolls go into the dry season with a lack-luster rainy season behind them. Based on this possible scenario, it may be prudent for residents of Majuro and the atolls of the northern RMI to begin voluntary conservation measures to ensure adequate supplies of drinking water. However, many forecasts indicate that rainfall in the RMI is likely to be near normal (even in the north), at least through the next 3 months. With anticipation of La Niña conditions to persist for at least the next three months, the RMI has a very low risk of a typhoon during the foreseeable future.