2 December 2008, Rome - Ocean warming, frequent tropical
cyclones, flash floods and droughts are likely to have a
devastating impact on food production systems in Pacific island
countries, FAO warned today. Climate change-related disasters
are already imposing serious constraints on development in the
islands, which appear to be in a "constant mode of recovery,"
according to a new report entitled Climate Change and Food
Security in Pacific Island Countries, jointly published by FAO,
the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
and the University of the South Pacific. "Climate projections
for the Pacific island countries are bleak and indicate reduced
food security, especially for households," said Alexander
Müller, FAO Assistant Director-General, Natural Resources
Management and Environment Department. "It is critical to build
resilience of food systems to avoid enormous future economic
losses in agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Countries will
have to assess how vulnerable their food syst