ALM UNDP

The Republic of Palau, the westernmost island cluster in the Caroline Island Group, is located in the western Pacific Ocean. Palau consists of 586 coralline and volcanic islands, of which only twelve are continuously inhabited. 25 percent of Palau’s landmass lies below ten meters above sea level. Consequently, low-lying coastal areas may be threatened by sea level rise. Inundation of low-lying atolls may reduce the agricultural capacity of Palau due to soil salination. Although adaptation options have been suggested, such as the cultivation of salt-tolerant root crops and foreshore revegetation, Palau has not yet developed a formal climate change adaptation programme.