Island communities in the Pacific Ocean are facing unprecedented challenges to their economies and environment from the impacts of climate change,

Sea level rise, tropical cyclones, floods and drought, combined with pressures from unsustainable fishing practices and coastal development, and consumption and production trends are rendering the livelihoods of some 10 million people increasingly vulnerable

Low-lying islands in particular could face projected losses of up to 18 per cent of GDP due to climate change.

The recommended actions are to enforce legislation, improve the availability of environmental data, and strengthen environmental institutions to help meet the major climate change challenges facing the Pacific region.

Successful efforts have been made to create community-managed conservation areas, such as marine parks, which have used indigenous knowledge to improve recycling, energy efficiency and sustainable water use. Such techniques can be scaled up, and serve as a model for other regions, says the report.

Due to low greenhouse gas emissions and the sustainable management of the region's forests - often by local communities - some Pacific islands could see net uptakes of CO? from the atmosphere in the future.

Covering 21 countries and territories, mostly small, low-lying island communities,  a detailed assessment of the state of the Pacific environment, and lays out policy options for improving sustainable development in island communities