Adaptation to Climate Change in Small Island Developing States: A Systematic Literature Review of Academic Research

Abstract

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) share a common vulnerability to climate change. Adaptation to climate change and variability is urgently needed yet, while some is already occurring in SIDS, research on the nature and efficacy of adaptation across SIDS is fragmentary. In this article, we systematically review academic literature to identify where adaptation in SIDS is documented; what type of adaptation strategies are taken, and in response to which climate change impacts; and the extent to which this adaptation has been judged as successful. Our analysis indicates that much adaptation research is concentrated on the Pacific, on independent island states, and on core areas within SIDS. Research documents a wide array of adaptation strategies across SIDS, notably structural or physical and behavioral changes. Yet, evaluation of concrete adaptation interventions is lacking; it thus remains unclear to what extent documented adaptation effectively and sustainably reduces SIDS’ vulnerability and increases their resilience.

Climate change adaptation in SIDS: A systematic review of the literature pre and post the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report

“…Chapter 29 of AR5 focused largely on observed, projected, and transboundary climate impacts in small islands, failing to delve into some of the human, social and policy dimensions of adaptation in these complex geographies. Klöck and Nunn (2019), which captured the primary climate impacts to which SIDS are adapting, is a systematic review of adaptation literature published between 2000 and 2016. Petzold and Magnan (2019) reviewed the challenges and opportunities for adaptation in SIDS and compared them with other types of island territories.…”

“…Despite the consensus around the vulnerability of SIDS to climate change and the urgency of adaptation in individual countries, not enough is known about how SIDS, as a group, are adapting (or not adapting) to the impacts of climate change, or the factors that are limiting adaptation, or adaptation success. Recent publications such as Robinson (2017a), Robinson (2018c), and Klöck and Nunn (2019) only begin to fill this critical gap. Robinson (2017a) coded adaptation actions reported in countries’ National Communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and analyzed the climate, climate‐related and non‐climate‐related vulnerabilities being addressed in SIDS, as well as the type of adaptation actions being undertaken.…”

Dealing with Climate Change on Small Islands: Towards Effective and Sustainable Adaptation?

“…This inter-island and inter-regional exchange has so far been marginal. While the specific circumstances of small islands have received significant political and academic attention (Mimura et al, 2007;Nurse et al, 2014), much of this research focuses on single case studies; comparative work across different islands is relatively rare (Klöck & Nunn, 2019). The present volume adds to recent efforts at bringing together individual case studies (Moncada, Briguglio, Bambrick, & Kelman, 2018;Walshe & Stancioff, 2018).…”

“…The contributions in this volume include work from geography, anthropology, political science, psychology, and philosophy. Empirically, the focus is on the Pacificwhere most small island research is located (Klöck & Nunn, 2019) but some chapters also focus on the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, or small islands in general.…”

Planned relocation and everyday agency in low‐lying coastal villages in Fiji

“…Fiji is an "early adaptor" (Betzold, 2015) that has implemented planned relocation. While a last resort measure, the government has stated that low-lying villages and settlements will be difficult and expensive to protect against sea-level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, and storm surges, "possibly making some of these settlements unsustainable over the long term," and has supported some relocations (Republic of Fiji, 2017a, p. 22).…”