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International Conference on Broadcast Media & Climate

Change: A Public Service Remit

Case of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

4th – 5th September 2009, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France

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Outline: Case of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

circumstances

Our vulnerability: Sea level rise, Drought, Vector borne disease, Natural disasters, Economy

Challenges of Reporting on Climate Change

Our identity: A way forward to saving our home

Small Island Developing States Circumstances:

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Small Island Developing States Circumstances: Groups of islands spread throughout in the Pacific;

Land topography: Majority are below 10m above sea level and are isolated by the sea;

Made up of various geological island types: volcanic, high limestone, low limestone, atolls, and a combination of volcanic and limestone and;

Climate: tropical rainy climate;

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SIDS Vulnerability to Climate Change

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Sea level rise : Flooding / Saltwater intrusion

High tide (October 2007)Saltwater intrusion (taro patches)

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Drought : Water shortage / Coral bleaching

Water reservoirEl Nino 1997/1998

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Vector borne diseases Outbreak of waterborne

diseases Dengue cases

VBDs 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Dengue 1208 863 16 15 57 9 25 55

Source: Division of Environmental Health

Dengue fever. Dengue fever. A warmer climate increases occasions of vector borne tropical diseases. Presence of dengue virus, mosquito vector, A warmer climate increases occasions of vector borne tropical diseases. Presence of dengue virus, mosquito vector, and exposed human populations are required for disease transmission.and exposed human populations are required for disease transmission.

Source: "The Regional Impacts of Climate Change". IPCC. Source: "The Regional Impacts of Climate Change". IPCC.

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Natural disasters Typhoon affects on infrastructure

Typhoon Utor left a mark in 2001

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Our Economy

1010

Taro plays an important role in food security, customs, and cultural identity. Agro-Tourism is currently being promoted as a sustainable source of income. Agriculture represents an estimated 5% of GDP as a commercial

Microsoft Office Excel 2007.lnk

YEAR kukau prak total1996 73,723 71,526 145,2491997 63,157 13,404 76,5611998 24,545 19,957 44,5022001 8,828 3735 12,563

Amount of taro sold in pounds

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Challenges of Reporting on Climate Change: Coordination & Collaboration of

international dialogue to local awareness; Monitoring & Linking the scientific data into

the local impacts of climate change; Mitigation and adaptation of Climate

Change activities and; Reporting on climate change without

adequate financial and technical resources.

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Our identity: a way forward to saving our home

The road to Copenhagen: May it pave the way to concrete reduction of greenhouse emissions;

Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and Implementation of Action Plans in a reasonable and timely manner for SIDS and;

Stronger media coverage on international and local level to raise Climate Change awareness.

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Kom Kmal Mesulang

Thank You Very Much