Food, Water and Livelihoods in Pacific Islands under Increasing Threat from Climate Change

Invasive Species, Waste, and Extreme Weather Events among Key Challenges

Doha (Qatar), 4 December 2012 – Island communities in the Pacific Ocean are facing unprecedented challenges to their economies and environment from the impacts of climate change, according to a new report released at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar.

Description:

The maps opposite show rainfall patterns for Sep-Oct-Nov (southern hemisphere spring) and for Dec-Jan-Feb (southern hemisphere winter) generated from a merged analysis of precipitation from 1979 to 2003.
The top row shows the average daily rainfall that prevails for the given period and ENSO conditions. Darker colors indicate more rain.

Description:

The maps show historical storm tracks from 1956-2009 for the months of the southern hemisphere cyclone season (Nov-Apr). Storms that formed during El Niño, La Niña and ENSO Neutral conditions are differentiated to reveal patterns which demonstrate how the El Niño / Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and cyclonic activity are linked.

DISASTER EVENTS IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC IN 2011

Asia and the Pacific continues to live up to its reputation as the world’s most natural-disaster-prone region. The International Disaster Database, EM-DAT, reports 89 natural-disaster events in the region in 2011. In terms of the number of events, China (14), Indonesia (6) and the Philippines (22) top the list. However, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand suffered the greatest number of lives lost.

Updated October 27, 2011 09:19:53

There's been drought breaking rain in Tokelau .... so much that they've ended their state of emergency imposed because of the severe water shortage.

A new campaign will be launched in the islands to try to get people to permantly reduce their water use.

Presenter:Geraldine Coutts
Speaker:Joe Suveinakama, Apia-based administrator for the Tokelau government

Listen: Windows Media

The effort to ensure Tuvalu and Tokelau have the water supplies needed to survive continues.

This morning our New Zealand Correspondent Dominique Schwartz made a quick visit to Tuvalu, and before boarding a plane home she described a bit of the situation.

Presenter: Campbell Cooney Speaker: Dominque Schwartz, New Zealand Correspondent

Listen: Windows Media

The US Coastguard has delivered fresh water to drought hit atolls in Tokelau.

The cutter Walnut, which has its own desalination unit, has also brought water provided by New Zealand to the three islands which make up the New Zealand territory, Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo.

Presenter: Bruce Hill

Presenter: Filipo Lui, President of the Tokelauan community in the Hutt Valley, near Wellington

Listen to the Media.

Updated October 7, 2011 17:57:10

One of the first responses to the water shortages in Tuvalu and Tokelau has been to send in portable desalination plants.

But is desalination technology cheap and effective enough to be a permanent part of a long term solution to the Pacific's water woes?

The process, which produces clean fresh drinking water from seawater may be getting cheaper, but it's still expensive.

In Australia, the Centre for Excellence in Desalination is a cooperative involving the government and leading research universities.

Families in Tuvalu's capital, Funafuti, are being allowed only two buckets of water a day as the drought continues.

The government estimates the country has five days of drinking water left.

Tuvalu is bringing in more fresh water on ships.

Andrew McKie from Red Cross New Zealand said two portable desalination plants have also been brought in to help alleviate the water shortage.

"They were transported to an island right in the south of Tuvalu, Nookilaulau, which although it's a small island was one of the ones worst affected by the drought," he said.