Solomon Times
BY JOANNA SIREHETI
Solomon Islands is among the world's lowest emitters of carbon
emissions, yet it is one of the countries at serious risk from the
effects of climate change.
This is according to the 2007/2008 Human Development Report on climate change launched in Honiara today.
The
report, "Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world",
explores the potentially disastrous developmental effects of climate
change.
Each year, the United Nations Development Programme's
(UNDP) Annual Human Development Report examines a different development
issue.
It was revealed in the report that small-island
developing states such as Solomon Islands are on the front line of
climate change, and could suffer catastrophic damage.
The report
found that for many low-lying small-island states, rising sea levels
and storms point to a highly predictable social, economic and
ecological crisis.
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident
Representative for Solomon Islands, Richard Dictus, said rising sea
levels could seriously affect many coastal communities in Solomon
Islands.
"Flooding caused by global temperature increases of 3-4
degrees Centigrade could result the permanent or temporary displacement
of people living in low-lying areas," he added.
Mr. Dictus noted that people's livelihood will also be impacted, as fishing grounds and garden plots will be affected.
"Some scientific models also suggest that climate change could bring about an increase in malaria and other diseases."
Citing
upcoming climate change negotiations in Bali, Indonesia, in December,
Mr. Dictus emphasized that the predicted impacts of climate change may
be reduced if countries join together to reduce carbon emissions and to
take action to mitigate the effects of climate change.
"Deforestation
is a key source in growing emissions worldwide and in the Pacific, but
carbon trading and carbon banking have the potential to reverse this
trend," observes Mr. Dictus. "It is recognized that the long-term
benefits of forest conservation outweigh the short-term profits of
logging."
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