Where

There are a number of reasons why ActionAid interested in the Pacific:

• There is an existing gap in research that investigates climate change from a gender- and rights-based approach;
• Pacific Islands are vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, tsunami and volcanic eruptions.  The onset of climate change is likely to increase the frequency and severity of these natural disasters. Some islands’ ecosystems are already under threat by foreign exploitation: mining, logging, fishing and other large scale extractive activities.  Cumulatively, climate change impacts can have serious consequences on human security;
• A large majority of the Pacific people live a subsistence lifestyle and their connection to the land and natural resources is very strong. Mama Land not only provides life and livelihood to the people of the Pacific but it is part of their identity.  Climate change poses a serious threat to the Pacific people and to their future generations because it undermines their identity and their right to life; and
• Climate change may create positive opportunities – not just negative impacts – for women to claim their rights, and lead and mobilise support for climate change mitigation and adaptation in their communities.

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Key Statistics

	Papua New Guinea	Solomon Islands	Australia
Population (2010)	6.7 million	0.5 million	21.5 million
Median Age years (2010)	20.0	20.3	37.8
Area	462,840 km2	28,400 km2	7,703,581 km2
Urban/Rural % (2010)	12.5/87.5	18.6/81.4	89.1/ 10.9
Gross Domestic Product US$PPP (2008)	$14.3 billion	$1.3 billion	$831.2 billion
GDP per capita (2008)	$1,253	$1,263	$47,370
Human Development Ranking (out of 169)	137	123	2
Life expectancy years (2010)	61.6	67.0	81.9
Number of parliamentary seats held by women % (2008)	0.9	0	29.7
Carbon dioxide emissions per capita tonnes (2006)	0.7	0.4	18.1
Population affected by natural disasters average per year, per million people (2000-2009)	5,078	2,050	458