Impact of Climate Change

Impact of Climate Change

Vanuatu is in a tropical maritime climate with uniform temperature, high humidity, and variable rainfall.
Winds are usually light except during a tropical storm.
The climate can be defined by two main seasons:
          Cold (dry) season from May to October
          Hot (wet/cyclone) season from November to April

Atmosphere
- There has been evidence of warmer and dryer climate.
- Climate change can also alter disease patterns.
- The warmer conditions may facilitate the spread of malaria and dengue fever in the region.
- Warmness of the atmosphere may cause cyclones to become more common, as well as larger.
- Just recently cyclone Pam hit, and was one of the most devastating cyclone they have ever experienced, killing 24 people and destroying lots of agriculture. It was blamed on climate change.
- After the cyclone hit, many people are without clean water and toilets. If they don't get these things soon, more people may die.


Hydrosphere
- High water temperatures, combined with ocean acid levels rising due to higher CO2 levels, are likely to cause severe stress to coral reefs in the south-western Pacific.

- Warmer water temperatures can increase the risk of ciguatera poisoning, which is a major health hazard for those people consuming reef fish.
- Wet season rainfall is likely to increase, which could damage crops.
- If sea level rises significantly people will need to relocate closer into the middle of the island.
-Higher sea levels could also cause certain species to become endangered on the Vanuatu islands.

Lithosphere
- Agriculture yields could be lower due to heat stress and lack of precipitation.
- Trying to compensate for lower yields of crops can also damage the environment.
- Soil degradation, deforestation, and undermining will happen while trying to regain lost yields.
- Vital roads are being located to avoid impacts of climate change including higher water marks.
- Bridges could be rendered useless if sea level rises high enough.



Biosphere
- Very dry conditions can harm Vanuatu's prime export; coconuts.
- Mangrove ecosystems are also threatened.
- Population growth can also suck up much needed resources that they may lose due to the dry climate.
- Tourism is Vanuatu's most valuable export industry, but the increase chance of natural disasters and diseases will likely turn away people from traveling there.
- 75% of the people there live off the land and are already being affected by climate change.
- Ten different projects are being implemented to help adapt to climate change, and disaster risk reduction.
- Reducing emissions to hopefully reduce size of cyclones.