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Climate change issues reach far beyond atmospheric and oceanic sciences, affecting every aspect of life on this planet. The issues are increasingly pivotal in determining future environmental and economic well?being. Variations of climate have profound effects on natural and managed systems; the economies of nations and the well-being of people everywhere” ? (UNFCCC Conference Statement?2nd world climate conference, 1990). In Solomon Islands lack of empirical data on the intimate evidences of climate change e and its implications on the islands’ inhabitants coupled with lack of technical and analytical capability has created gaps in the comprehensive understanding of climate change and sea level rise. Hence people have been ignorant of the adverse effects of climate change until recently (Hiriasia, 2007).

The earth is currently facing the real possibility of permanently losing a vast number of wild plant and animal species in an "extinction crisis" that is unparalleled in history for its speed and severity. The CBD estimates extinction rate as 100-200 times higher than the historical natural level, with the greatest losses on islands and in freshwaters1, while the United Nations Environment Programme also identifies forest species as being particularly at risk2. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is more pessimistic and believes that extinction rate may be up to a thousand times above historical levels. Drawing on IUCN Red Data List material3, it estimates that for instance 12 per cent of bird species and 23 per cent of mammals are threatened with extinction. Just as significant, studies suggest that almost all species are currently declining in either range and/or population size and all ecosystems are declining4.