Despite being a high island with elevations up to 450m, Lihir Island located in New Ireland Province PNG is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, given that almost all the population and development is located on the coast

Lihir Island is also the site of one of the southern hemisphere's biggest gold mines. Royalties from the gold mine have allowed the local land owners and communities to develop civil infrastructure on the island including roads, towns and harbours. This paper identifies climate change hazards and sea level rise vulnerability on the Island and describes the adaptation measures being incorporated into new development.

Also described is the vulnerability of customary villages and the process of working with the community to develop adaptation strategies for these settlements.