Climate change poses numerous challenges for the agricultural sector. Sea-level rise will increase salinization and erosion of agricultural land, reducing the country’s land capacity for crop cultivation. Furthermore, more intense extreme climate events, such as droughts and tropical cyclones will cause additional damage to agricultural infrastructure and productivity. Great uncertainty in model projections challenges planning and livelihood optimisation for future climates, but future temperature increases are likely to alter the cultivars which are optimal in Palau. Further research into both varieties and climate are required to ensure the sustainability of livelihoods.

This section provides insights into the climate change impacts on agricultural productivity indicators and the trends in agriculture related socio-economic indicators.