Population and settlement concentration in coastal areas and high exposure to climate-driven coastal hazards on small islands mean that threats to tangible cultural heritage  are high , although few studies examine this issue specifically in a small island context. On the island of Barbuda, archaeological sites containing important information on historical ecology and climatic shifts are at risk from coastal erosion and hurricanes. This loss of heritage represents identity loss, as "learning about the past is a crucial exploration of self that grounds and connects people to places" . Losses and damages to heritage sites may also impact tourism and thus have significant economic impacts for narrow small island economies .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report