To understand the general information and environmental issues of countries, which participated in the Palau forum, this investigation report was made by the staff of the Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga University (IOES). The report is still incomplete because it has to refer to various documents that are not yet available. However, we plan to collect information all documents after the end of the Palau forum. We plan to complete the investigation report concerning each country that intend to join "The 3rd World Water Forum" that will be held in Kyoto in March 2003.
From the investigation, we have gathered that the islands country regions are very vulnerable with regards to the environment issues. Low-lying islands and atolls are especially vulnerable to climate change. Sea-level rise has great impact on physical and biological systems such as coastal morphology and natural ecosystem. Moreover, it is predicted that sea-level rise will affect port and coastal infrastructure as well as industries, traditional lifestyles and cultures in the coastal zones.
Moreover, because the islands region is geographically contained and closed, infrastructure for water, food, and the energy supply are insufficient and inadequate. Especially, because energy relies on import, the cost of energy is inevitably high. Therefore, it is important that the islands region use energy efficiently, and selects suitable renewable energy for their use. Though it is considered a common problem for people who live in the island there is a possibility to address the problem once it becomes known and understood by the outside world. It would be easy for people who live outside the islands to understand their energy problems because of its contained and closed geography.
Our investigation report based on this forum is complete. However, we want to collect more information on energy and water problem in each country, and reflect it in this investigation report. We would appreciate comments and recommendations which can be included or incorporated in this report with the end in view of presentation or inclusion in the forthcoming "The 3rd World Water Forum" to be held in March 2003. We hope there are an advice from each country through the Palau forum and the Saga forum to make this report more accurate. It is hoped that this investigation report would be useful in providing information on problems concerning the island countries.
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the contributions of numerous individuals to the successful completion of this report. We are grateful for the voluntary efforts of the members of the staff who prepared and reviewed the report. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the following individuals for preparation of this report:
Dr. Hirofumi Arima, Dr. Hirokuni Akiyama, Dr. Bai Ou, Fusataka Arakawa, Wu Haojing, Hiroshi Sasaki, Kazuya Urata, Zhao Zhang.