President Johnson Toribiong in his speech before the World Ocean Forum in Korea last week said climate change will affect the low-lying coastal areas, erosion and inundiation is also a major risks to Palau .
According to data , in Palau it is forecasted that the Kayangel atoll will be inundated by sea water and may cease to exist by 2100 if the sea level rises close to one meter from its current level.
“Extensive damage to and losses of land and resources shall be felt in all of our islands including the coastal areas of Koror and Babeldaob Island of Palau where 2/3 of our residents live and work.
The famous Rock islands, the president said, will also be adversely affected and will cause severe disruption to the country’s tourism industry whose main attraction is its environment.
The president in his data presented to the forum said that besides the rising sea level, the Climate Change Adaption Project for the Pacific warns that the more severe conditions can be expected in the future.
The president said that Palau temperatures are projected to increase 0.49 to 1.13 degrees centigrade in the coming 40 years.
The data stated that precipitation projections indicate more rainfall during summer season, while an increase in daily rainfall is projected to intensify causing more frequent heavier rainfall occurrences.
The data further showed that rainfall is projected to intensify causing more frequent heavier rainfall occurrences.
The data also noted that global warming will also increase seasonal and un seasonal drought and this will adversely affect the supply of potable water.
The president said since Palau lacks a climate change adaptation policy, he will be working in concert with countries in the region and the world to formulate a strategy to effectively reduce the impact of climate change.
The president said in case of the worst scenario, there could be a mass relocation of people from coastal areas to high grounds which will create social unrest between owners of land on higher grounds.
He said that there might be certain low lying island states that maybe swallowed to extinction by the rising sea level.
The president said climate change is being caused by human activities and the abuse has taken its toll on the environment.
“The rising sea level is a different form of tsunami coming towards us in slow motion , moving vertically to swallow our islands and coastal regions of continents. Short term economic interests must yield to the efforts to contain the threats of climate change. We must take action now before its too late,” Toribiong said.
