Journal Article

Preventing disaster in the Pacific Islands: the battle against climate disruption

Tait, Peter, Merone, Lea

2018

Overview

Global warming owing to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is irrefutable. This has clear effects on human health. The effects of global warming and climate disruption are only two of a series of issues facing Pacific Island nations. Increasing GHGs and planetary temperatures, rising sea levels and extreme weather events are potentially catastrophic for these low‐lying Islands. Despite their predicament, the nations of the Pacific are taking action to mitigate their risks and prepare for what they must do to survive physically and culturally.The speed of climate change is accelerating and with it the likelihood of ‘climate refugeeism’ is increasing. Climate change has a wide‐reaching impact on human health; both directly – for example, from injuries caused by adverse weather events – and indirectly, from issues including changing disease profiles, effects on agriculture and flow‐on socioeconomic impacts. These effects all combine to force emigration and pressure other countries.Because of proximity and existing networks, Australia, New Zealand and the United States are key migration destinations.The Paris Declaration focuses on displacement due to climate change but does not discuss voluntary migration as a method for reducing future refugeeism. Climate disruption may result in people feeling forced to flee, while others may decide to voluntarily migrate. There is no agreed distinction between forced displacement and voluntary migration.

• Publisher: Elsevier B.V,Elsevier Limited,Elsevier
• Subject: Adaptation / Agricultural management / Agriculture / Aquaculture / Biodiversity / Climate change / Coastal management / Coastal structures / Coastal waters / Coastal zone / Coastal zone management / Coral reefs / Cyclones / Deception / Destinations / Disaster management / Disasters / Disease / Disruption / Economic conditions / Economic development / Emergency preparedness / Emigration / Employment / Extreme weather / Financial support / Fisheries / Food / Food security / Food supply / Forced migration / Global warming / Greenhouse effect / Greenhouse gas emissions / Greenhouse gases / Health care policy / Internal migration / Islands / Migration / Ocean temperature / Pacific Islander people / Population decline / Populations / Protective structures / Proximity / Public health / Rain water / Reef fish / Refugees / Rehabilitation / Relocation / Resilience / Saline water / Sea level / Sea level rise / Spawning / Sustainable development / Trauma / Tuberculosis / Vitamin deficiency / Water purification / Water resources / Water resources management / Water shortages / Water supply / Weather