19 March 2025, Chuuk FSM - The predicament is dire for citizens and communities living on Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
According to an analysis of Chuuk’s climate averages, variability, trends and projections identified in the Climate Impact, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (CIVRA) report undertaken by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), sea surface temperatures have been increasing, and this trend is projected to continue.
This will lead to more marine heatwaves, with both observed and projected changes in ocean chemistry exacerbating temperature related impacts for marine ecosystems. What’s more, sea level has risen and is projected to rise further in future, amongst other challenges brought by climate change.
The Assistant Deputy Secretary of Climate Change in FSM’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECEM), Mr Correy Abraham, said rising sea levels pose a significant threat to the long-term habitability of Chuuk and many low-lying islands with the only option for survival is the ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
“The current climate change hazards being experienced are expected to continue with more severe impacts. Stronger tropical cyclones, storm surges, and heavy precipitation events are expected to increase given FSM is within the typhoon belt and western States - Yap and Chuuk are particularly impacted by the West Pacific Monsoon,” said Mr Abraham. “Droughts have already caused and will continue to cause significant issues for our outlying islands and Chuuk is one of the most vulnerable States to droughts and subsequent fires triggered by dry conditions and significant water shortages.”
Mr Abraham was speaking during the Chuuk State Inception workshop, a part of a series of state stakeholder sessions that DECEM, through the FSM National Adaptation Planning Project Management Unit (PMU), is delivering in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and partners with funding support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The state sessions, with the first held in Pohnpei and Yap, followed the national inception workshop in August 2024.
“DECEM will not be able to implement this project on its own,” said Mr Abraham. “This stakeholder session is important to enable meaningful engagement of State stakeholders to provide guidance and feedback on the climate change impacts that are unique to Chuuk State and outlying islands.”
According to the Climate Impact, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (CIVRA) for Chuuk, the climate has been changing in the state due to increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and these changes are projected to continue. The average annual temperatures for instance have warmed by 0.25 °F per decade on average for the 1952 to 2020 period.
Climate models indicate average annual temperatures will continue to increase in Chuuk and this warming will be associated with more heatwaves. The assessment also found that while typhoon frequency has decreased since 1980, the intensity has increased in Chuuk.
Chief of Staff in Chuuk State, Mr Roger Mori said the climate predicament are dire but it is important the FSM Government, SPREP, partners and all members of the community to work together to adapt.
“Your commitment to conducting this crucial workshop is truly appreciated, especially in light of the challenges posed by recent executive orders from US government leaders affecting Climate Change programmes,” said Mr Mori.
“Through collaboration with your counterparts and state partners, we fully commit to supporting this essential initiative. Governor Narruhn and I stand firmly behind this program, working towards its success and the achievement of its objectives.”
The Chuuk State Inception and Implementation Planning Workshop was held from 26-28 February at the Auditorium of the Chuuk State Government. Represented at the gathering were officials from the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture, Education, Health, Environment Protection Agency, Catholic Relief Agency, Chuuk youth and members of the community.
The next round of consultations will be held in Kosrae.