Culture, climate change and mobility decisions in Pacific Small Island Developing States

Abstract

The Pacific Small Island Developing States are often considered on the frontline of climate change due to high levels of exposure to climate-related hazards and limited adaptive capacity to respond. In this context, Pacific Islanders may be displaced, or choose to migrate to escape risk and find more secure livelihoods. On the other hand, Pacific political and community leaders stress that mobility can be a threat to sovereignty and culture and should only be considered as a last resort. This paper adopts a cultural ecology framing to gain a greater understanding of these contested local discourses on climate change and human mobility in Kiribati, Tuvalu and Nauru through the use of the Q method. The results reveal a range of shared subjective understandings of climate change and human mobility which show that reasons for, and perceived outcomes of moving are inextricably linked. These subjective understandings highlight that culture, and in particular how Islanders relate to land and religion can influence decision-making, promoting or hindering mobility. The findings therefore support the need for further engagement with communities to recognise and validate their positions on climate change and human mobility to facilitate the planning and implementation of effective policy.

Measuring Peripherality as a Proxy for Autonomous Community Coping Capacity: A Case Study from Bua Province, Fiji Islands, for Improving Climate Change Adaptation

“…Externally designed and funded, most such interventions have failed in the sense that, when measured objectively, they have neither achieved their medium-term goals nor have they been sustained (McNamara 2013;Nunn 2009). While there may be many reasons for this (Piggott-McKellar et al 2019a), it seems likely that failure is largely due to a lack of sustained community support (human and financial) for particular external interventions, something that in turn is attributable to a lack of understanding by those designing these interventions about community coping capacity, aspirations and worldviews (Nunn et al 2016;Oakes 2019). Many attempts at underwriting the costs of climate-change adaptation in such situations assume that all communities are the same-that 'one size fits all'-when in fact there is a significant diversity in the nature of communities and their ability to adapt, either autonomously or assisted (Nunn et al 2014).…”

Beyond burdens and climate refugees: a stocktake of international responsibility-sharing and South Pacific climate-induced migration

“…Firstly, the assumption of a homogeneous Pacific 'climate refugee' is inherently problematic. (Oakes, 2019). We must acknowledge the agency and incredible strength and diversity of Pacific communities in the face of climate (im)mobility.…”

“…Going forward, it is hoped that the findings of this research will equip scholars and policy-makers with a set of responsibility-sharing principles that are relevant to the South Pacific region and bring us a step closer to an effective regional agreement that is attuned to local context and the significant complexities of South Pacific climate migration. (Oakes, 2019) and constantly evolving to deal with the complex climate (im)mobility decisions that more and more Pacifics face (Suliman et al, 2019). Therefore, this paper's analysis of the compatibility of responsibility-sharing principles and goals with Pacific communities' needs comes with the caveat that we must recognise that there is a diverse plurality of Pacific perspectives on climate migration.…”

“…Beyond burdens and climate refugees: a stocktake of international responsibility-sharing and South Pacific climate-induced migration Daisy McElwain 300363544 75 in the towel' or giving up (Walters, 2019). For others, preparing for planned relocation is vital to ensure that climate migration is dignified and 'on their terms' (Oakes, 2019).…”

“…Kiribati also became economically dependent on Australia for funding for the[2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009][2010][2011][2012][2013][2014][2015][2016] Kiribati Adaptation Programme. In terms of social consequences, adaptation policies for climate migration can trigger ontological anxieties and sometimes conflicting views in Pacific communities(Oakes, 2019) about loss of cultures, languages, religions and ways of life…”