Adapting to the effects of climate change is the topic of a three-day workshop in the Cook Islands this week.
The workshop is hosted by the United Nations and the Cook Islands Environment Service.
The UN's Climate Change Secretariat adaptation manager, Youssef Nassef, says the conference is assessing the impact and looking at ways to support the small island states.
Mr Nassef says it is also discussing how the international community could help.
"Insurance promises to be an important source of support for adaptation, maybe not in its classical sense of private sector insurance, but perhaps developing new mechanisms that could provide incentives for people adopting adaptive actions."
Youssef Nassef also urges the region to collectively respond to climate change.
