Search the SPREP Catalogue

The importance of coastal and marine environments to every aspect of the lives of Pacific Islanders cannot be overstated. Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) maintain resource rights and management responsibilities for over 30 million square kilometres of ocean, equivalent to the total land area of Canada, China and the United States of America. The total population of coastal Pacific Islanders is only 2.6 million. There are 11 square kilometres of ocean for each Pacific Islander. Jurisdictionally, the ocean is 200 times more significant to the average Pacific Islander than it is to the average global citizen.

The Kingdom of Tonga is in the South Pacific Ocean with an archipelago of 169 islands with only 36 islands being inhabited. Domestic inter-island shipping plays a crucial role in providing the fundamental means of transportation for the Tongan people, and it is Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI) responsibility to ensure its safe and secure operation. Currently, in Nukualofa Port, the domestic inter-island ships berth at Faua wharf and Queen Salote wharf. Faua wharf can only accommodate ships under 300 gross tonnage mainly due to the shallow depth and lack of basin space. Larger domestic ships are therefore now berthing at Queen Salote wharf, at berths 3 and 4. However, due to the lack of space in the berthing, cargo handling and passenger waiting areas, allocation of an alternative berthing area for large domestic ships has been become an urgent necessity. Furthermore, for safety and security reasons, the port plans to allocate Queen Salote wharf solely of international ships, which was the original plan.

This document is a step-by-step guide to facilitating a one-day workshop on understanding climate change science and is targeted at audiences in the Pacific island region and Timor-Leste. The training module provides PowerPoint presentations with facilitator notes and explains participatory exercises aimed at enhancing capacity in understanding climate change science.

Pacific Climate Futures Version 2.0 is a web-based climate impacts decision-support tool available for free.

Tropical cyclones (TCs) affect many Pacific Island countries and their impacts can be sever in vulnerable island communities. An understanding of how tropical cyclones may change under future climates, including changes in windspeeds and associated rainfall, is essential for managing future climate risks and saving lives.

PACC reports