Palau - Climate

The climate of Palau is hot and humid with little annual variation in the mean maximum temperature of 87.9 °F and the mean minimum of 75.6 °F. Total annual precipitation averages 147.3 inches. In the wettest months, June and July, monthly precipitation averages 17.04 inches, whereas during the driest months, February, March, and April, monthly precipitation averages 8.84 inches (data from Western Regional Climate Center 2004). During an El Niño year (warm phase of the Southern Oscillation), rainfall tends to be above average for that summer and below average in the following autumn and winter months. Palau borders the typhoon belt in the western tropical Pacific and is subject to occasional typhoon damage. Prior to European contact, extensive terracing was practiced on Babeldaob in upland areas. Paleoenvironmental evidence suggests terracing may have contributed to landcover change from forest to savanna and fernland, and accelerated erosion as much as 2,500 years before present. Additional recent disturbances have included mining of bauxite, military action during World War II (which denuded much of Peleliu and Angaur), and conversion of forest for agriculture. Forest was cleared during the recent construction of a new capitol on Babeldaob and a road to encircle the island. Barren volcanic soils pose high risk of erosion with frequent, intense rainfall and are often a corridor for colonization by invasive species Mangroves play a vital role in buffering the effects of storms and waves along coastal areas. They also provide habitat for marine life and filter runoff exiting terrestrial ecosystems. The filtration that mangroves provide helps to sustain coral reef and fish habitat by trapping sediment. The mangroves of Palau are a particularly species-rich mangrove type that extends along a narrow strip of the tidal zone. Palau is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, principally from sea level rise and the increase in extreme events (drought, flooding, Category 4 and 5 typhoons). Sea-level rise threatens vital infrastructure, settlements, and facilities that support the livelihood of island communities. Moreover, under most climate change scenarios, water resources in small islands are likely to be seriously compromised. Subsistence and commercial agriculture will be adversely affected by climate change, and ocean warming and acidification will heavily impact coral reefs, fisheries, and other marine-based resources crucial to livelihoods, economy and culture.

To achieve the renewable energy target Palau will need considerable additional installed capacity, including the 5MW of solar already planned (two or more solar projects plus additional roof-top solar) plus an additional 10 MW to power the water sector. Palau will also have to work to reduce transmission and distribution losses. Climate change presents a major challenge for Palau’s sustainable development, for which the nation relies significantly on development partnerships. Similarly, implementation of many of the policies and measures needed to achieve our emissions reduction target will depend on the availability of partnership finance, technology support and capacity development. Based on a first-order estimate, the upfront investment cost for the renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in Palau’s INDC would be on the order of $5.5 million USD. This investment has the potential to generate savings, on a net-present-value basis, of $2.5 million by 2025.