PACC TECHNICAL REPORT 4 JUNE 2014 Vulnerability and adaptation (V&A) assessment for Ontong Java Atoll, Solomon Islands SPREP LIBRARY/IRC CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Vulnerability and adaptation (V&A) assessment for Ontong Java Atoll, Solomon Islands. Apia, Samoa : SPREP, 2014. p. cm. (PACC Technical Report No.4) ISSN 2312-8224 Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme authorises the reproduction of this material, whole or in part, provided appropriate acknowledgement is given. SPREP, PO Box 240, Apia, Samoa T: +685 21929 F: +685 20231 E:
[email protected] W: www.sprep.org This publication is also available electronically from SPREP’s website: www.sprep.org SPREP Vision: The Pacific environment, sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures. www.sprep.org PACC TECHNICAL REPORT 4 JUNE 2014 Vulnerability and adaptation (V&A) assessment for Ontong Java Atoll, Solomon Islands TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY v ABBREVIATIONS vii 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. BACKGROUND 3 2.1. Natural and human systems of Ontong Java Atoll 4 2.1.1. Vegetation 4 2.1.2. The marine ecosystem 4 2.1.3. People and land systems 5 2.2. Current climate and sea level 6 2.2.1. Temperature and rainfall 6 2.2.2. Extreme events 7 2.2.3. Sea level 8 2.3. Climate and sea level projections 9 2.3.1. Temperature and rainfall projections 9 2.3.2. Sea level projections 11 2.4. Climate change impacts 11 3. THE ASSESSMENT AND ITS OBJECTIVES 12 4. METHODOLOGY 12 4.1. Household survey 13 4.1.1.