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‘Climate change and adaptation’ is a central topic on the 5th World Water Forum. It is the lead theme for the political and thematic processes, the topic of a High Level Panel session, and a focus in several documents and sessions of the regional processes. To provide background and depth to the political process, thematic sessions and the regions, and to ensure that viewpoints of a variety of stakeholders are shared, dozens of experts were invited on a voluntary basis to provide their perspective on critical issues relating to climate change and water in the form of a Perspective Document.

Small island countries are no different from other countries in that freshwater is essential to human existence and a major requirement in agricultural and other commercial production systems. However, the ability of the island countries to effectively man-age the water sector differs in Small Island Devel-oping States (SIDS), as they are constrained by their small size, isolation, fragility, natural vulnerability, and a limited human, financial and natural resource base.

In October 1986, scientists and climatologists were gathered by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Council of Scientific Union (ICSU) at an international conference in Villach, Austria, to discuss the problem of anthropogenic interference in the Global Climate System (GCS). At the end of the conference, they declared jointly that the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gasses (GHG) due to the intensive industrial activity in developed countries is the origin of the long succession of temperature anomalies recorded by climatologists since the beginning of 20th century and will probably further stress the sensitivity of the GCS during the 21st century.

Climate change poses a massive threat to development. The poorest populations of poor countries - the Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, and the nations of Africa - face the concentrated challenge of tackling the worst of the impacts with the least capacity to do so. Clearly, adaptation to climate impacts must be seamlessly integrated into any development planning and policy. This four- step plan for mainstreaming climate change aims to fulfil that need. A 'learning by doing approach, it focuses first on national capacity to ensure that development in all sectors and at all levels is effectively climate-proofed.

Climate change is the defining human development issue of our generation. Pacific Island Countries are very much on the front line of climate change. Coastal inundation and erosion due to sea level rise and storm surges are predicted to increase in the Pacific region along with the frequency and intensity of droughts, floods and tropical cyclones. Face with such a grim reality, how are Pacific Island Countries dealing with this situation? This documentary highlights the problems facing Pacific Island Countries and offers a look at both the present political efforst and future needs of the region to address the many adverse impacts of climate change

A core objective of the MSV programme is research into the consequences of climate change for vulnerable groups and how to deal with those consequences. Participants at an initial stakeholder meeting held in Belize in May 2007 discussed the need for and relevance of a SIDS-wide assessment of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, and agreed that this assessment should contain strong links to the Arctic and that it should lead to concrete, community-relevant adaptation strategies, strengthen national adaptation planning, and support vulnerable regions in their call for strong action globally. Moreover, the Belize participants noted that a SIDS assessment should go beyond providing a "snapshot" of impacts and vulnerability in these regions, to produce results that can guide concrete adaptation actions and appropriate policy measures over time.

Adaptation to climate change is a complex topic that presents a number of challenges. Indeed, one important challenge lies in defining adaptation and understanding the full scope of its implications. Adaptation is currently the topic of numerous studies that offer a range of definitions. The IPCC offers a starting point by providing a broad definition of adaptation: adjustment in natural or human systems to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. However, adaptation is increasingly difficult define in practical and operational terms. To aid in this effort, some key points can be identified to provide a helpful framework for understanding the complex nature of adaptation.

The Pacific Islands region that is served by SPREP covers 32 million km2 and is in the middle of the largest continuous marine habitat on the planet, the Pacific Ocean. This region is home to a diverse range of large marine animals, including cetaceans, sirenians and marine turtles. Over half of the world’s known species of cetaceans are found in the region. The area also supports the world’s largest remaining populations of dugongs, and green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles.

He stressed that this session was an opportunity to ensure that all delegates were up-to-date with the Project and its background. To set the scene for the workshop he reported on the Project development history. In summary, he drew attention to the signing of the grant and financing agreements on the 13 March 2002. He also noted that the SOPAC Project has been at least 3 to 4 years in development.