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An assessment of community-based adaptation initiatives in the Pacific Islands

Author

Listed:
  • Karen E. McNamara

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Rachel Clissold

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Ross Westoby

    (Griffith University)

  • Annah E. Piggott-McKellar

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Roselyn Kumar

    (The University of the Sunshine Coast)

  • Tahlia Clarke

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Frances Namoumou

    (Pacific Conference of Churches)

  • Francis Areki

    (World Wildlife Fund Pacific)

  • Eugene Joseph

    (Conservation Society of Pohnpei)

  • Olivia Warrick

    (Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre)

  • Patrick D. Nunn

    (The University of the Sunshine Coast)

Abstract

For the Pacific Islands, community-based adaptation activities are crucial, and yet it remains uncertain whether they are effectively promoting long-term adaptive capacity. Here we evaluate the performance of 32 community-based adaptation initiatives across 20 rural communities in the Pacific. We find that initiative appropriateness was a strength while sustainability was a consistent issue, locally funded initiatives and those implemented by non-governmental organizations were more likely to perform better, and climate awareness-raising initiatives and those integrated with ecosystem-based adaptation performed best. We also identify four multidimensional and interdependent optimization points for future community-based adaptation initiatives: local approval and ownership, shared access to and benefit from initiatives, integration of local realities, and systems-thinking and forward planning. Our analysis suggests the need for a praxis shift whereby adaptation is locally led, communities drive their own agendas, and donors and implementers become facilitators that resource the diverse capacities of communities and help achieve local objectives equitably.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen E. McNamara & Rachel Clissold & Ross Westoby & Annah E. Piggott-McKellar & Roselyn Kumar & Tahlia Clarke & Frances Namoumou & Francis Areki & Eugene Joseph & Olivia Warrick & Patrick D. Nunn, 2020. "An assessment of community-based adaptation initiatives in the Pacific Islands," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(7), pages 628-639, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:7:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0813-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0813-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Franziska Wolf & Walter Leal Filho & Priyatma Singh & Nicolai Scherle & Dirk Reiser & John Telesford & Ivana Božić Miljković & Peni Hausia Havea & Chunlan Li & Dinesh Surroop & Marina Kovaleva, 2021. "Influences of Climate Change on Tourism Development in Small Pacific Island States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Cauchi, John Paul & Bambrick, Hilary & Correa-Velez, Ignacio & Moncada, Stefano, 2021. "‘White flour, white sugar, white rice, white salt’: Barriers to achieving food and nutrition security in Kiribati," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    3. Johann D. Bell & Inna Senina & Timothy Adams & Olivier Aumont & Beatriz Calmettes & Sangaalofa Clark & Morgane Dessert & Marion Gehlen & Thomas Gorgues & John Hampton & Quentin Hanich & Harriet Harden, 2021. "Pathways to sustaining tuna-dependent Pacific Island economies during climate change," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(10), pages 900-910, October.
    4. Eriksen, Siri & Schipper, E. Lisa F. & Scoville-Simonds, Morgan & Vincent, Katharine & Adam, Hans Nicolai & Brooks, Nick & Harding, Brian & Khatri, Dil & Lenaerts, Lutgart & Liverman, Diana & Mills-No, 2021. "Adaptation interventions and their effect on vulnerability in developing countries: Help, hindrance or irrelevance?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    5. Johannes M. Luetz & Elizabeth Nichols & Karen du Plessis & Patrick D. Nunn, 2023. "Spirituality and Sustainable Development: A Systematic Word Frequency Analysis and an Agenda for Research in Pacific Island Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-14, January.
    6. Jan van der Ploeg & Meshach Sukulu & Hugh Govan & Tessa Minter & Hampus Eriksson, 2020. "Sinking Islands, Drowned Logic; Climate Change and Community-Based Adaptation Discourses in Solomon Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-24, September.
    7. van der Ploeg, J. & Jupiter, S. & Hughes, A. & Eriksson, H. & Boso, D. & Govan, H., 2020. "Coral reef conservation in Solomon Islands: Overcoming the policy implementation gap," Monographs, The WorldFish Center, number 40902, April.
    8. Md. Mahfuzul Islam & A. Aldrie Amir & Rawshan Ara Begum, 2021. "Community awareness towards coastal hazard and adaptation strategies in Pahang coast of Malaysia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 107(2), pages 1593-1620, June.
    9. Suliasi Vunibola, 2023. "“Want to help someone? Shut up and listen”: Foreign aid, maladaptation, and community development practices in the Pacific," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 41(S2), December.
    10. Fischer, Harry W., 2021. "Decentralization and the governance of climate adaptation: Situating community-based planning within broader trajectories of political transformation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    11. Walter Leal Filho & Franziska Wolf & Stefano Moncada & Amanda Lange Salvia & Abdul-Lateef Babatunde Balogun & Constantina Skanavis & Aristea Kounani & Patrick D. Nunn, 2022. "Transformative adaptation as a sustainable response to climate change: insights from large-scale case studies," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 1-26, March.
    12. Gaelle Faivre & Rodger Tomlinson & Daniel Ware & Saeed Shaeri & Wade Hadwen & Andrew Buckwell & Brendan Mackey, 2022. "Effective coastal adaptation needs accurate hazard assessment: a case study in Port Resolution, Tanna Island Vanuatu," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 170(1), pages 1-25, January.
    13. Helen Fillmore & Loretta Singletary, 2021. "Climate data and information needs of indigenous communities on reservation lands: insights from stakeholders in the Southwestern United States," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 1-22, December.
    14. Tschakert, Petra & Parsons, Meg & Atkins, Ed & Garcia, Alicea & Godden, Naomi & Gonda, Noemi & Henrique, Karen Paiva & Sallu, Susannah & Steen, Karin & Ziervogel, Gina, 2023. "Methodological lessons for negotiating power, political capabilities, and resilience in research on climate change responses," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    15. Masud-All-Kamal, Md. & Nursey-Bray, Melissa, 2024. "Feminisation of adaptation interventions in Bangladesh: An intersectional analysis," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 33(C).
    16. Jaime Madrigano & Regina A. Shih & Maxwell Izenberg & Jordan R. Fischbach & Benjamin L. Preston, 2021. "Science Policy to Advance a Climate Change and Health Research Agenda in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-15, July.

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