Transcript 4_session_Eunice_Akiwo_Palau

International Conference on
Broadcast Media & Climate
Change: A Public Service Remit
Case of Small Island
Developing States (SIDS)
4th – 5th September 2009, UNESCO Headquarters,
Paris, France
"No Island left behind"
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Outline:

Case of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
circumstances

Our vulnerability: Sea level rise, Drought, Vector
borne disease, Natural disasters, Economy

Challenges of Reporting on Climate Change

Our identity: A way forward to saving our home
"No Island left behind"
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Small Island Developing States
Circumstances:
Small Island Developing States
Circumstances:

Groups of islands spread throughout in the Pacific;

Land topography: Majority are below 10m above sea level
and are isolated by the sea;

Made up of various geological island types: volcanic, high
limestone, low limestone, atolls, and a combination of
volcanic and limestone and;

Climate: tropical rainy climate;
"No Island left behind"
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SIDS Vulnerability to Climate
Change
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Sea level rise : Flooding / Saltwater
intrusion
High tide (October 2007)
Saltwater intrusion (taro patches)
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Drought : Water shortage / Coral
bleaching
El Nino 1997/1998
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Water reservoir
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Vector borne diseases

Outbreak of waterborne
diseases
 Dengue cases
VBDs
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Dengue
1208
863
16
15
57
9
25
55
Source: Division of Environmental Health
Dengue fever.
A warmer climate increases occasions of vector borne tropical diseases. Presence of dengue virus, mosquito vector,
and exposed human populations are required for disease transmission.
Source: "The Regional Impacts of Climate Change". IPCC.
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Natural disasters

Typhoon affects on infrastructure
Typhoon Utor left a mark in 2001
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YEAR
Our Economy



kukau
prak
total
1996
73,723 71,526 145,249
1997
63,157 13,404
76,561
1998
24,545 19,957
44,502
2001
8,828
3735
12,563
Taro plays an important role in food security, customs, and cultural identity.
Agro-Tourism is currently being promoted as a sustainable source of income.
Agriculture represents an estimated 5% of GDP as a commercial
Microsoft Office Excel 2007.lnk
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
kukau
80,000
prak
total
60,000
40,000
Amount of taro
sold in pounds
20,000
0
1996
1997
1998
2001
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Challenges of Reporting on Climate
Change:




Coordination & Collaboration of
international dialogue to local awareness;
Monitoring & Linking the scientific data into
the local impacts of climate change;
Mitigation and adaptation of Climate
Change activities and;
Reporting on climate change without
adequate financial and technical resources.
"No Island left behind"
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Our identity: a way forward to saving our home

The road to Copenhagen: May it pave the way to
concrete reduction of greenhouse emissions;

Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and
Implementation of Action Plans in a reasonable
and timely manner for SIDS and;

Stronger media coverage on international and
local level to raise Climate Change awareness.
"No Island left behind"
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Kom Kmal Mesulang
Thank You Very Much
"No Island left behind"
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