The federated states of Micronesia have contributed very little to global greenhouse gas emissions, but are likely to be severely affected by global warming. An excess of 600 small islands and atolls constitute Micronesia, which is divided into the states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Micronesia is situated in the tropics of the western Pacific Ocean, just north of the equator.
Between 1947-86, Micronesia was a part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which was administered by the United States. Since 1986, Micronesia has been in a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Micronesia became a member of the UN in 1991, ratifying the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on November 18, 1993.
Micronesia signed the Kyoto Protocol on March 17, 1998, and ratified it on June 21, 1999. The UNFCCC came into force in 1994, and the Kyoto Protocol was effective as of 2005.
Micronesia is a member of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which was formed to enable small island states to have a greater say in international relations, primarily with regard to climate change and sea-level rise. The country is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise and to storm surges. Sea-level rise and loss of land are already occurring. Low lying islands are under threat. On islands that have higher ground, it is the low-lying coastal areas that are most heavily inhabited. Micronesia is affected by El Nino and La Nina weather events, and these may become more frequent and more intense as a result of global warming. El Nino causes drought conditions, while La Nina brings heavy rains, high waves, and storm surges. In the 1997-98 El Nino Southern Oscillation, Micronesia suffered drought conditions, reduced availability of drinking water, loss of agricultural crops, salt water intrusion of agricultural land, extreme sea-level variations, and erosion.
THREE STRATEGIES
The Micronesian government has identified three strategies through which to address the challenges faced because of the adverse effects of climate change. These are: to promote sustainable economic growth by reducing its economic, environmental, and social vulnerabilities; to balance resource conservation and management; and to ensure and improve quality of life for all its citizens and for future generations. Micronesia works with a number of bodies in its efforts to adapt to climate change, these include the Asian Development Bank, the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme, and the Global Environment Facility-funded Pacific Island Climate Change Assistance Programme.
