VULNERABILITY OF SMALL-ISLAND STATES TO SEA-LEVEL RISE.

Requirements for holistic national and international strategies Summary Uncertainty prevails regarding climate change and its implications, but within small-island states with wide ranging characteristics, social and economic vulnerability to the effects of hazardous events is likely to become increasingly important. It will not be a normally benign sea that rises, but incidence of storms and cyclones can be assumed to increase with tropical sea-surface temperatures. The proportional socio-economic impact of tropical cyclone disasters makes these of crucial significance to small and small-island states. Sea-defences do relatively little (and may not be feasible at all) relevant to the damage caused by tropical cyclones and some sea-surges. Social and economic adjustments are required t