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Explain How Climate Change Impacts the Sustainability of Pacific Islands Nations

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The Pacific islands are without a doubt one of the world’s most vulnerable nations when it comes to sustainability impacts of climate change. There are several low-lying coral islands which some are already suffering from disaster as the ocean waters have claimed much of their island. For instance, Kiribati only lying 6 meters above sea water, who knows what Kiribati’s future is.

One of the affects of climate change is the social impact on towns. For example if Samoa was forced to leave to another island/home where they didn’t have coconut trees they would be losing a massive part of their traditional culture. The coconut trees were not only used for food but clothing, shoes, making nets etc. therefore there is loss of traditional culture.
People will move to other countries and will have to adapt to new environments and this affects people's everyday lives.

The environmental impacts of climate change are possible increases of sea level and temperature of the water which would result in flooding of the crop lands causing famine and starvation. Salt water would pollute the fresh water rivers and wells. This will mean villages and wild animals would have to move to different areas of the island in search of fresh water. Also with climates changing cyclones are not appearing as often as in the 1970’s, but are gaining more power and are doing more damage. For example Cyclone Pam which struck Tuvalu, Fiji , Kiribati, Vanuatu and many other Pacific nations where over 3000 people were displaced.

Increases in sea water temperature would cause coral bleaching of the reef causing it to die. This would result in the natural food chain of the reef being affected causing many species of marine life to die and possibly become extinct. Also causing one of the main food sources of Pacific Islanders to be lost. For example Mangrove areas in The pacific Is. Will

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