Roundtable

Adaptive Governance: The case of small island states

A combination of climate characteristics and particular socio-economic circumstances makes many small island states some of the world’s most vulnerable to climate change. These countries, however, emit extremely low levels of greenhouse gases. While they hardly contribute to climate change, they disproportionately suffer the impacts of climate change through the rising sea-level, increased drought, loss of coral reefs due to bleaching, and freshwater scarcity resulting from decreased rainfall and salt water intrusion. This high level panel will explain why small island states can be viewed as laboratories, providing significant insight into climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation options that can be shared with other countries less directly or severely affected by climate change.

This roundtable was organized by the German Foreign Ministry and was convened as part of the IHDP Open Meeting 2009 on special invitation.

Photo Copyright Mike Le Gray 2009.

Photo Copyright Mike Le Gray 2009.

Photo Copyright Mike Le Gray 2009.

Photo Copyright Mike Le Gray 2009.

Photo Copyright Mike Le Gray 2009.

Photo Copyright Mike Le Gray 2009.

Photo Copyright Mike Le Gray 2009.

Photo Copyright Mike Le Gray 2009.

All conference photographs are copyright Mike Le Gray 2009. For information on licensing please contact him directly at mikelegray@mac.com or +49 1757 283 084. For examples of Mike Le Gray's work visit www.flickr.com/photos/black-dog or www.digitalperspective.biz