Effects of Climate Change Relevant to the Pacific Islands

Introduction The oceans and the atmosphere are closely linked. The oceans have absorbed approximately 93% of the excess heat caused by global warming and around two thirds of anthropogenic CO2 (Rhein et al., 2013). These changes are predicted to have profound effects on atmospheric, physical and biological processes, affecting ocean ecosystems and the services they provide to society and the ocean’s capacity for further climate mitigation (Pörtner et al., 2014). Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are particularly vulnerable to these changes due to their reliance on marine resources and the concentration of settlements in coastal regions (Nurse et al., 2014). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Small Island Developing States in the South Pacific are particularly vulnerable to the effects of marine climate change due to their proximity to the ocean and their reliance on it for resources and transportation.