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It is a great challenge to convert scientific knowledge of climate and sea level change to information that is useful to policy makers. This process is especially important in the South Pacific where many small island nations are already facing the effects of climate change. This paper will address the following topics: the importance and priority of oceanography and science policies: the type of scientific results necessary for the policy process: whether the policy development is externally driven: communication between scientists and policy makers: and the vulnerability of small island states in the face of changing environmental conditions. The South Pacific region's combined Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) occupy 30 million square kilometers (three times larger than China or the USA). The land area is less than 2cc of that total with an estimated population of fewer than 6 million people.

The environment and economic health of marine and coastal waters are linked to individual people, community, regional, national and international levels. The interdependence of the island economy and their environment are very well known.