Climate Change and Impacts in the Pacific (Springer Climate)

✍ Scribed by Lalit Kumar (editor)

• Publisher: Springer
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 552
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This edited volume addresses the impacts of climate change on Pacific islands, and presents databases and indexes for assessing and adapting to island vulnerabilities. By analyzing susceptibility variables, developing comprehensive vulnerability indexes, and applying GIS techniques, the book's authors demonstrate the particular issues presented by climate change in the islands of the Pacific region, and how these issues may be managed to preserve and improve biodiversity and human livelihoods. 

The book first introduces the issues specific to island communities, such as high emissions impacts, and discusses the importance of the lithological traits of Pacific islands and how these physical factors relate to climate change impacts. From here, the book aims to analyze the various vulnerabilities of different island sectors, and to formulate a susceptibility index from these variables to be used by government and planning agencies for relief prioritization. Such variables include tropical cyclones, built infrastructures, proximity to coastal areas, agriculture, fisheries and marine resources, groundwater availability, biodiversity, and economic impacts on industries such as tourism. Through the categorization and indexing of these variables, human and physical adaptation measures are proposed, and support solutions are offered to aid the inhabitants of affected island countries. This book is intended for policy makers, academics, and climate change researchers, particularly those dealing with climate change impacts on small islands.

✦ Table of Contents

Preface
Contents
Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Climate Change and the Pacific Islands
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Impacts of Climate Change
1.2.1 Global Warming of 1.5 °C
1.2.2 Global Warming and Sea-Level Rise
1.2.3 Changing Weather Patterns and Extreme Events
1.2.4 Pressure on Water and Food
1.2.5 Human Health Risks
1.2.6 Impact on Wildlife and Ecosystems
1.3 The Pacific Ocean: Location, Size, and Distribution
1.4 Emissions by Pacific Island Countries
1.5 Projected Climate Change and Impacts
1.6 Economic Impacts in the Pacific
1.7 Migration and Displacement Due to Climate Change
1.8 Adaptation, Adaptive Capacity, and Lack of Information and Information Communication Infrastructure
1.9 Conclusions
References
Chapter 2: Islands in the Pacific: Settings, Distribution and Classification
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Island Settings: The Pacific Basin and Its Oceanic Islands
2.3 Classifying Pacific Islands: Data Sources
2.3.1 Island Locations and Shapes
2.3.2 Island Areas
2.3.3 Island Names
2.3.4 Island Elevations
2.3.5 Island Lithologies
2.4 Island Types: Outcomes of Classification
2.5 Characteristics of Islands in the Pacific
2.5.1 Distribution of Islands
2.5.2 Areas of Islands
2.5.3 Maximum Elevations of Islands
2.6 Distribution of Island Types
2.7 Conclusions
Appendix: The Island Database
References
Chapter 3: Climate Change Scenarios and Projections for the Pacific
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Major Features of Climate Variability in the Pacific
3.2.1 South Pacific Convergence Zone
3.2.2 El Niño-Southern Oscillation
3.2.3 Pacific Decadal Oscillation and Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation
3.3 Observed Climate Variability and Change in the Pacific
3.3.1 General Perspective
3.3.2 Temperature
3.3.3 Rainfall
3.3.4 Tropical Cyclones
3.3.5 Sea Level
3.4 Climate Projections
3.4.1 Overview
3.4.2 Emission Scenarios and Pathways
3.4.3 Climate Model Evaluations
3.4.4 Climate Model Projections for the Pacific
El Niño-Southern Oscillation
South Pacific Convergence Zone
Rainfall
Extreme Rainfall
Sea-Level Rise
3.5 Summary
References
Chapter 4: Comparison of the Physical Susceptibility of Pacific Islands to Risks Potentially Associated with Variability in Weather and Climate
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Aim
4.3 The Indicative Susceptibility Index
4.3.1 Methods and Variables Used
4.3.2 Results: Susceptibility Index
4.3.3 Discussion: Indicative Susceptibility
4.4 An Exposure Index
4.4.1 Methods and Variables Used
4.4.2 Compilation of the Exposure Index
4.5 Compilation of the Geomorphic Sensitivity Index
4.6 Results
4.7 Discussion and Conclusions
References
Chapter 5: Downscaling from Whole-Island to an Island-Coast Assessment of Coastal Landform Susceptibility to Metocean Change in the Pacific Ocean
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Downscaling and Upscaling
5.3 Methodology
5.3.1 Overview
5.3.2 Calculation of Susceptibility
5.3.3 Determination of Island Instability
5.3.4 The Indicative Vulnerability of Whole Islands
5.4 Results
5.4.1 Weighted and Non-weighted Estimates of Island Susceptibility
5.4.2 Weighted and Non-weighted Estimates of the Instability of the Coastal Fringe of Islands
5.4.3 Indicative Vulnerability at an Island Scale
5.5 Discussion and Conclusions
References
Chapter 6: A Review of South Pacific Tropical Cyclones: Impacts of Natural Climate Variability and Climate Change
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Historical Data Records and Homogeneity
6.3 Climatological Characteristics
6.4 Tropical Cyclones and Natural Climate Variability
6.4.1 Impact of ENSO
6.4.2 Impact of the MJO
6.5 Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change
6.5.1 Overview
6.5.2 Paleotempestology
6.5.3 Trends from Observations
6.5.4 Results from Climate Modelling Experiments
6.6 Socio-economic Impacts of Tropical Cyclones
6.7 Summary
References
Chapter 7: Impacts of Climate Change on Coastal Infrastructure in the Pacific
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Case Study: Exposure of Coastal Built Infrastructure Assets in the South Pacific to Climate Risks
7.2.1 Introduction
7.2.2 Methods
7.2.3 Results and Discussion
References
Chapter 8: Population Distribution in the Pacific Islands, Proximity to Coastal Areas, and Risks
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Case Study: Exposure of Coastal Populations to Climate Risks in 12 Pacific Island Countries
8.2.1 Introduction
8.2.2 Methodology
8.2.3 Results
The Cook Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Kiribati
The Marshall Islands
Nauru
Niue
Palau
Samoa
The Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
8.2.4 Discussion and Conclusions
References
Chapter 9: Agriculture Under a Changing Climate
9.1 Introduction
9.2 The Role of Agriculture in PICs
9.2.1 Significance in GDP
9.2.2 Significance of Agriculture at the Household Level
9.2.3 Significance of Agriculture for Social Cultural Activities
9.2.4 Resourcing Agriculture
9.3 Impacts of Extreme Events and Rising Sea Levels on Agriculture
9.3.1 Observed Impacts of Climate Change and Climate Variability on Agriculture
9.3.2 Future Impacts of Climate Change on Crops in PICs
9.4 Case Studies: Reducing the Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture
9.4.1 Tonga Agriculture Sector Plan for a Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture System
9.4.2 USAID Food Security Adaptation Project: Sabeto District, Nadi, Fiji Islands
9.4.3 Improving Soil Health and Land Availability: Atolls and High Islands
Atoll Soil Health Project
Use of Invasive Seaweed as an Organic Fertilizer
Use of Mucuna to Improve Soil Fertility and Resilience
9.5 Looking Ahead: Strategic Directions for Transforming Agriculture Under a Changing Climate
9.5.1 Priorities of Agriculture Sector Plans in Relation to Climate Change
Healthy Soils, Sustainable Land Management, and Access to Land
Sustainable Water Supply for Agriculture
Diverse Farming Systems
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Focus on Food Security
9.5.2 Opportunities for Transforming the Agriculture Sector
Vulnerability and Risk Assessments of Food Security and the Agriculture Sector (Before, During, and After Hazards)
Applied and Accessible Research
Genuine Partnerships
Resourcing
9.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 10: Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Resources in the Pacific Island Region
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 Physical and Biological Features of the Region
10.1.2 Ethnic and Cultural Diversity and Demography
10.2 Importance of Marine Resources to the People in the Pacific
10.2.1 Cultural and Social Importance of Marine Resources
10.2.2 Importance of Fisheries and Aquaculture for Food Security, Livelihoods and Economic Development
10.2.3 Importance of Marine Resources for Tourism
10.3 Vulnerability of Marine Resources to Climate Change
10.3.1 Impacts of Local Changes in Climate
10.4 Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Habitats
10.4.1 Oceanic Habitats and Food Webs
10.4.2 Coral Reefs
10.4.3 Seagrass Meadows
10.4.4 Mangroves
10.5 Impacts of Climate Change on Fish and Invertebrates
10.5.1 Coastal Fisheries
Indirect Effects
Direct Effects
10.5.2 Oceanic (Tuna) Fisheries
10.5.3 Sharks and Rays
10.6 Impacts of Changes to Marine Resources on Communities and Culture
10.6.1 Impacts of Changes to Marine Resources on Communities and Culture
10.6.2 Impacts of Changes to Marine Resources on Tourism and Aquaculture
10.6.3 Impacts on Economic Development and Government Revenue
10.7 Adaptation Options
10.7.1 Community-Based Adaptation and Resilience
10.7.2 Adaptations for Food Security
Adaptation Options to Minimise the Gap
Adaptations to Fill the Gap
10.7.3 Adaptations for Livelihoods
10.7.4 Economic Development and Government Revenue
10.8 Future Research
10.9 Conclusions
References
Chapter 11: Freshwater Availability Under Climate Change
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Freshwater Resources Availability
11.2.1 Diversity of Islands and Influences on Water Resources
11.2.2 Types of Freshwater Resources
Surface Water
Groundwater
Rainwater
Desalination
Importation
Other Sources
Further Information
11.2.3 Freshwater Uses
Water Supply
Other Freshwater Uses
11.3 Main Hydrological Influences on Freshwater Availability
11.3.1 Rainfall
11.3.2 Evapotranspiration
11.3.3 The Water Balance
11.3.4 Characteristics of Five Selected Islands
11.4 Current Freshwater Issues in Pacific Islands
11.4.1 Water Security
11.4.2 Access to Safe Water
11.4.3 Impacts of Current Climate Variability
Droughts
Tropical Cyclones, Storms, Floods and Landslides
Wave Overwash and Groundwater Inundation
11.4.4 Impacts of Non-climate-Related Natural Hazards
11.4.5 Impacts of Human Activities
11.5 Future Impacts of Climate Change on Water Security
11.5.1 Climate Change Projections
11.5.2 Impacts from Mean Rainfall and Evaporation Changes
11.5.3 Impacts from Extreme Rainfall Frequency and Intensity Changes
11.5.4 Impacts from Mean and Extreme Temperature Changes
11.5.5 Impacts from Tropical Cyclones
11.5.6 Impacts from Mean Sea Level Rise
Projected Mean Sea Level
Actual Sea Level Measurements and ENSO Effects
Impact Studies on Fresh Groundwater
11.5.7 Impacts from Wave Overwash in Addition to Mean Sea Level Rise
11.5.8 Resilience of Atoll Islands
11.6 Concluding Comments
References
Chapter 12: Climate Change and Impacts on Biodiversity on Small Islands
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Islands and Biodiversity Hotspots
12.3 Vulnerability of Biodiversity on Small Islands to Climate Change
12.4 Case Study: Climate Change Effects on Threatened Terrestrial Vertebrates of the Pacific Islands
12.4.1 Introduction
12.4.2 Methodology
12.4.3 Results and Discussion
12.4.4 Conclusions
References
Chapter 13: Economic Impacts and Implications of Climate Change in the Pacific
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Economic Settings of Pacific Islands
13.3 Economic Effects of Climate Change
13.4 Policy Options
13.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 14: Adaptation to Climate Change: Contemporary Challenges and Perspectives
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Adaptation on Pacific Islands
14.3 Case Study 1: Seawalls as Intuitive Yet Maladaptive Responses to Shoreline Erosion in Rural Island Contexts
14.4 Case Study 2: Planned Relocation as an Adaptation Strategy—Examples from the Fiji Islands
14.5 Case Study 3: Peripherality—A Blessing or a Curse for Climate-Change Adaptation in Pacific Island Communities?
14.6 Case Study 4: Making Climate Finance Work—The Experience of Tonga
14.7 Case Study 5: Adapting Island Food Systems to Climate Change
14.8 Case Study 6: Challenges of Aligning Community Priorities for Climate-Change Adaptation with Donor Agendas
14.9 Case Study 7: Engaging Communities for Meaningful Forward Planning for Climate-Change Adaptation—Examples from Kadavu Island, Fiji
14.10 Case Study 8: Relocation as Climate-Change Adaptation—Precedents from Solomon Islands
14.11 Conclusions and Future Priorities
References
Index