As a small island developing state,
Samoa
is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Projected sea level rise could increase coastal erosion, cause loss of land and property, and dislocate island inhabitants. In this article, the authors describe the main vulnerabilities to climate-related risks in Samoa, and summarise research designed to assess the vulnerabilities of
Saoluafata
Village
as a basis for identifying measures to improve local adaptive capacity and mainstream adaptation into the national policy framework.
They conclude that Saoluafata’s adaptive capacity is probably insufficient to accommodate future changes in exposure to climate risks, and suggest several possible adaptive measures.
(Adapted from author)