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Niue
Summary:
As a small island nation Niue is highly vulnerable to climate change. Any rise in the sea level would threaten Niue’s underground freshwater supplies. Other climatic changes could also impact food security. Niue lies on the boundary of the southern tropical cyclone belt. An increase in the incidence and severity of tropical cyclones could cause damage to existing infrastructure and the environment. To adapt to these threats the country has proposed that vulnerable infrastructure be relocated to areas less at risk. Other measures proposed include the establishment of database and information systems to collate data and record monitoring, and to conduct further research about the impacts of climate change on national flora and fauna.
Niue is situated approximately 2,400 kilometres northeast of New Zealand, and has a total surface area of 259 square kilometres. The main population is gathered in the capital, Alofi. Niue has been an assoicated state of New Zealand since 1974, and all of its peoples are New Zealand citizens. The atoll of Niue consists of three terraces, the rim of the lower terrace averages 28 metres above sea level and the upper terrace averages 69 metres above sea level. It is a rugged coastline. Niue has a hot wet season from November to March and a cool dry season from April to November. Due to its location on the edge of the tropical cyclone belt, Niue currently is hit by a cyclone about every four years and experiences a severe cyclone about once in every ten years. The tropical cyclone period occurs during the hot wet season. These events have historically caused significant physical and economic damage to the country (NMS, 2000). The average temperature does not vary greatly throughout the year due to the influence of the sea. The mean daily minimum temperature is 19oC and the maximum mean daily temperature is 30oC. Niue is largely covered by tropical forests, although deforestation is common to allow for the expansion of agriculture. The main industry in the country is subsistence farming and fishing, with some cash crops and processed foods (CIA, 2011). However, much of its economy is dependent on development assistance provided by New Zealand. Tourism could be expanded in the country, particularly with improved air services (NZAID, n.d.).
- Agriculture: more intense rainfall and higher humidity could lead to greater incidence of pests and diseases due to fungi and bacteria; an increase in temperature and evapotranspiration could result in reduced crop yields; and more frequent or intense cyclones could, as in the past, destroy cash and subsistence crops.
- Biodiversity/Land Use Change and Forestry: cyclones have a devastating effect on the regeneration of tree species and can damage coral reefs; a rise in sea temperatures could lead to bleaching of the coral in Niue’s reef; and changes in temperature, precipitation and other climatic factors may alter the island’s terrestrial biodiversity.
- Coastal Zones and Reefs: as a high coral atoll country, Niue is less exposed to sea level rise compared to other countries; however, greater wave action due to more frequent or intense storms could lead to greater coastal erosion and coral reefs may be lost due to an increase in tropical cyclone frequency and severity.
- Human Health: increased temperatures and a longer rainy season could lead to greater prominence of the mosquito-borne diseases dengue fever and filiarisis; deterioration in water quality caused by more intense rainfall washing pollution into freshwater sources could increase incidences of diarrhea; and fluctuating temperatures could increase susceptibility to influenza and respiratory tract infections.
- Fisheries: changes in sea temperatures and consequent modification of ocean currents could affect the type and abundance of marine resources.
- Freshwater Resources: in the absence of running surface water sources, groundwater resources are of critical importance to Niue. Greater frequency of drought conditions would restrict recharge of this freshwater lens, and sea level rise could result in saltwater intrusion.
- Capacity Building: Need for on-going technical training in sector analysis, climate change science, negotiations and policy making.
- Education and Public Awareness: Maintain and increase public awareness of issues pertaining to climate change through means such as print, radio, television and competitions.
- Coastal zones: promotion of integrated coastal management; integration of land and marine use planning with economic planning; and creation of artificial coast.
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Agriculture: promotion of drought resistant and/or tolerant crops; introduction of sustainable agricultural practices; and promotion of research on the development of climate resilient plants and crop species.
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Forests and biodiversity: reducing forest clearance; planting native tree species; passing of the National Forest Policy, which provides guidelines on the regulation and implementation over program and activities for the use, management and conservation of the forest resources of Niue; and increasing knowledge of fish migration patterns and marine flora and fauna interactions.
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Human health: integrate climate change into health education and promotion programs; strengthen preventative health program;and establish health monitoring database.
Publication
Dohan, Rosemary; Hove, Hilary; Echeverría, Daniella; Hammill, Anne, Parry, Jo-Ellen. (2011) “Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action: The Pacific.” Adaptation Partnership/International Institute for Sustainable Development, pp. 94-99
Additional References
Change. Retrieved from http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/niunc1.pdf
