Climate Change Adaptation on Small Island States: An Assessment of Limits and Constraints

From MDPI via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: accepted 2021-05-11, pub-electronic 2021-05-31Publication status: PublishedSmall Island States (SIDS) are among the nations most exposed to climate change (CC) and are characterised by a high degree of vulnerability. Their unique nature means there is a need for more studies focused on the limits to CC adaptation on such fragile nations, particularly regarding their problems and constraints. This paper addressed a perceived need for research into the limitations of adaptation on SIDS, focusing on the many unique restrictions. To this end, the study identified and described the adaptation limits they have by using a review of the literature and an analysis of case studies from a sample of five SIDS in the Caribbean and Pacific regions (Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Cook Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tonga). This research’s findings showed that an adaptable SIDS is characterised by awareness of various values, appreciation and understanding of a diversity of impacts and vulnerabilities, and acceptance of certain losses through change. The implications of this paper are two-fold. It explains why island nations continue to suffer from the impacts of CC and suggest some of the means via which adequate policies may support SIDS in their efforts to cope with the threats associated with a changing climate. This study concluded that, despite the technological and ecological limits (hard limits) affecting natural systems, adaptation to CC is limited by such complex forces and societal factors (soft limits) that more adequate adaptation strategies could overcome

Impact of climate change on spirituality

The Pacific is known as the most sensitive region to the impact of climate change on spirituality due to high Christian rates per capita. Using an explanatory design, here we studied 36 cases (n=36) of Fijians aged 25 to 55+ from 17 communities in Vitilevu, Fiji, and found that 50% (18) were affected, with which 22.2% (8) were negatively affected, 11.1% (4) were neither affected and 16.6% (6) were positively affected. A chi-square goodness-of-fit test shows that these differences were statistically significant: X2(5) = 29.000, p < 0.01. A Kendall’s tau-b shows, there is a strong positive correlation between climate change and impact on spirituality (τb = .747, p < 0.01). The same factors were explored qualitatively using an in-depth interview (n=3) and informant interview (n=1) and found spirituality to affect negatively and positively. These results inform further research and policy on the spiritual dimension of adaptation to climate change