An environmentalist in Micronesia is calling for small island states, under imminent threat of inundation due to rising sea levels, to be more proactive in their own backyards on climate change mitigation.
Willy Kostka, who heads the Micronesia Conservation Trust, says even though islands aren't the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, plans can still be developed to improve local infrastructure.
For example, he says governments can create incentives to build away from the beach and to not have SUVs and four wheel drive pickup trucks on roads.
Willy Kostka says every effort needs to be made to stop anticipated climate change problems related to erosion and flooding.
"We need to have strategies within our own countries to help us prepare for the potential climate change impacts. We can't just be sitting there and complaining to the international community and the bigger countries about mitigation. We need to start adapting now."
The director of Micronesia's Conservation Trust, Willy Kostka
The Trust coordinates funding to implement the Micronesia Challenge to conserve over 30 % of coastal marine areas and 20% of land in Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Guam and the CNMI.
