IMPACT ON SMALL STATES In addition to the environmental consequences, climate change has and will cause significant challenges across a range of socio-economic areas and sectors. Because of the characteristics of many small states and territories, such as a limited resource base, remoteness from markets, geographic isolation, low-lying terrain and large coastal populations, they will experience many of these challenges to a greater degree and will be more limited in their ability to respond. Despite the gravity of the challenges ahead, positive steps can be taken at the local, national and international level towards preventative and remedial solutions across different sectors. Parliamentarians can learn about the broad reaching effects that climate change has in their jurisdictions. This will build a knowledge base to help better scrutinise the work of the government related to climate change, or in formulating their own policy responses with the support of different stakeholders.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND SMALL STATES
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