""Only four islands, mostly uninhabited, had decreased in area despite local sea level rises of almost five inches in that time, while 23 stayed the same or grew."
I don't know about you, but an island "staying the same or grew" does not constitute islands being underwater or wiped off the map. Of course, if you live in an alternate universe, "islands staying the same or growing" means that they have been wiped out by climate change.
It looks like your quote of a quote is an own goal.
Maybe i am wrong and in 12 years all pacific islands will be under water.
