During 2004-2005, the Department of Environment worked in conjunction with the Tydall Centre for Climate Change Research to produce A Guidebook: Surviving Climate Change in Small Islands. The guidebook offers a wealth of information on Climate Change, and practical advise on how to adapt to Climate Change. Click on image to download guide.

Small islands are often economically, socially and physically vulnerable by their very nature. Because they are unable to produce all the goods and services to meet domestic needs, they are often import-dependent. Many rely on tourism to generate foreign exchange to balance this demand for imported goods and services. Due to their small land masses, small islands are typically land-resource constrained. This means that there are limited places for people to live, space for infrastructure, areas for waste disposal, agricultural production, industrial development, etc.

Many small islands are already at risk from many environmental hazards, such as coastal, river and rain-induced flooding, tropical cyclones and storm surges. The battering received from many of these hazards can make islands particularly vulnerable to other changes. Knowing the existing risks and how they are changing should help those on small islands prepare for future hazards. In particular it is important to understand how existing vulnerabilities could exacerbate the impacts of other environmental hazards and what can be done to reduce the threat of disaster.

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