Abstract
Sea level rise and extreme weather events threaten the livelihoods and possibly the long-term existence of whole island nations. While the media, policy, and often scientific arenas essentially focus their attention on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which are widely recognised as hotspots of global climate change, the situation of the numerous other vulnerable island territories has been relatively neglected. As a result, the focus on SIDS has paved the way for mainstream adaptation research and, in turn, for biases in the interpretation of climate change vulnerability and risks of small islands in general. Here, we argue that such an overly narrow scope severely limits our understanding of island-specific issues that influence island societies’ adaptability to on-going and future climate change. This article reviews the current perspective on challenges and opportunities for climate change adaptation on SIDS and compares it with other types of island territories, especially dependent islands of continental states and semi-autonomous sub-national island jurisdictions (SNIJ). This comparison reveals that despite critical socio-political differences between the respective island types, more general lessons can be learned as island territories at large face similar issues both regarding the drivers of vulnerability and exposure and the adaptation measures needed. We propose an analytical framework for looking ‘beyond SIDS’ that includes the recognition of critical issues (asymmetrical governance structures, archipelagic constellations, inter-island connections) that shape island societies’ vulnerability and leeway for adaptation to climate-related hazards.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
We here follow the categorisation of SNIJs by Watts (2009) as ‘islands or sets of islands [that] are involved in some combination of autonomous self-government combined with formal collaboration in a wider political partnership’.
For more detail on the MACC project, see https://caricom.org/mainstreaming-adaptation-to-climate-change-macc/ (accessed 17 November 2018)
References
Baldacchino G (2004) The coming of age of island studies. Tijdschr Econ Soc Geogr 95:272–283. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9663.2004.00307.x
Baldacchino G (2018) Seizing history: development and non-climate change in Small Island Developing States. Int J Clim Chang Strateg Manag 10:217–228. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-02-2017-0037
Baldacchino G, Milne D (2006) Exploring sub-national island jurisdictions: an editorial introduction. The Round Table 95:487–502. https://doi.org/10.1080/00358530600929735
Barnett J, Waters E (2016) Rethinking the vulnerability of small island states: climate change and development in the Pacific Islands. In: Grugel J, Hammett D (eds) The Palgrave handbook of international development. Palgrave Macmillan UK, London, pp 731–748. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-42724-3_40
Betzold C (2015) Adapting to climate change in small island developing states. Clim Chang 133:481–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-015-1408-0
Betzold C, Mohamed I (2016) Seawalls as a response to coastal erosion and flooding: a case study from Grande Comore, Comoros (West Indian Ocean). Reg Environ Chang:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-016-1044-x
Bijlsma L et al. (1995) Coastal zones and small islands. In: Watson RT, Zinyowera MC, Moss RH (eds) Climate Change 1995: impacts, adaptations and mitigation of climate change: scientific-technical analyses. Contribution of Working Group II to the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 300–335
Bonati S (2014) Resilientscapes: perception and resilience to reduce vulnerability in the island of Madeira. Procedia Econ Financ 18:513–520. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2212-5671(14)00970-8
Buggy L, McNamara KE (2016) The need to reinterpret “community” for climate change adaptation: a case study of Pele Island, Vanuatu. Clim Dev 8:270–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2015.1041445
Connell J (2013) Islands at Risk? Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham
Dannevig H, Hovelsrud GK (2016) Understanding the need for adaptation in a natural resource dependent community in Northern Norway: issue salience, knowledge and values. Clim Chang 135:261–275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-015-1557-1
Donner SD (2015) The legacy of migration in response to climate stress: learning from the Gilbertese resettlement in the Solomon Islands. Nat Res Forum 39:191–201. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12082
Donner SD, Webber S (2014) Obstacles to climate change adaptation decisions: a case study of sea-level rise and coastal protection measures in Kiribati. Sustain Sci 9:331–345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-014-0242-z
Duvat VKE et al (2017) Trajectories of exposure and vulnerability of small islands to climate change. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Clim Chang 8:e478. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.478
Duvat VKE, Magnan AK (in press) Lessons from coastal risks governance on Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, France. In: Larrue C, La Jeunesse I (eds) Facing Hydro-meteorological extremes events in Europe: a governance issue. Wliley-Blackwell, Hoboken,
Duvat VKE, Magnan AK, Etienne S, Salmon C, Pignon-Mussaud C (2016) Assessing the impacts of and resilience to tropical cyclone Bejisa, Reunion Island (Indian Ocean). Nat Hazards 83:601–640. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2338-5
Ferdinand M (2018) Subnational climate justice for the French Outre-mer: postcolonial politics and geography of an epistemic shift. Island Stud J 13:119–134. https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.49
Forster J, Lake I, Watkinson A, Gill J (2011) Marine biodiversity in the Caribbean UK overseas territories: perceived threats and constraints to environmental management. Mar Pol 35:647–657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2011.02.005
Global Islands Network (n.d.) Global Island Database. http://www.globalislands.net/about/gid_functions.php. Accessed 10/07/2018
Granderson AA (2017) The role of traditional knowledge in building adaptive capacity for climate change: perspectives from Vanuatu. Weather Clim Soc 9:545–561. https://doi.org/10.1175/wcas-d-16-0094.1
Green D, Alexander L, Mclnnes K, Church J, Nicholls N, White N (2010) An assessment of climate change impacts and adaptation for the Torres Strait Islands, Australia. Clim Chang 102:405–433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-009-9756-2
Grydehøj A (2018) Hearing voices: colonialism, outsider perspectives, island and indigenous issues, and publishing ethics. Island Stud J 13:3–12. https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.54
Grydehøj A, Kelman I (2017) The eco-island trap: climate change mitigation and conspicuous sustainability. Area 49:106–113. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.12300
Hiwasaki L, Luna E, Syamsidik MJA (2014) Local and indigenous knowledge on climate-related hazards of coastal and small island communities in Southeast Asia. Clim Chang 128:35–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-014-1288-8
Hoeke RK, McInnes KL, Kruger JC, McNaught RJ, Hunter JR, Smithers SG (2013) Widespread inundation of Pacific islands triggered by distant-source wind-waves. Glob Planet Chang 108:128–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2013.06.006
Holding S, Allen D, Foster S, Hsieh A, Larocque I, Klassen J, Van Pelt S (2016) Groundwater vulnerability on small islands vol 6. https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE3128
Janif SZ, Nunn PD, Geraghty P, Aalbersberg W, Thomas FR, Camailakeba M (2016) Value of traditional oral narratives in building climate-change resilience: insights from rural communities in Fiji. Ecol Soc 21. https://doi.org/10.5751/es-08100-210207
Kelman I (2014) No change from climate change: vulnerability and small island developing states. Geogr J 180:120–129. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12019
Kelman I (2018) Islandness within climate change narratives of small island developing states (SIDS). Island Stud J 13:149–166. https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.52
Kelman I, Davies M, Mitchell T, Orr I, Conrich B (2006) Island disaster para-diplomacy in the commonwealth. The Round Table 95:561–574. https://doi.org/10.1080/00358530600929925
Kerr SA (2005) What is small island sustainable development about? Ocean Coastal Manag 48:503–524
Lacher K (2015) The island community of Chenega: earthquake, tsunami, oil spill ... What’s next? Global Environ 8:38–60. https://doi.org/10.3197/ge.2015.080103
Le Masson V, Kelman I (2011) Disaster risk reduction on non-sovereign islands: La Réunion and Mayotte, France. Nat Hazards 56:251–273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9566-x
Longépée E (2016) La résilience des atolls de Kiribati (Micronésie) à la sécheresse: comparaison entre un système urbain et un système rural Cybergeo. Eur J Geogr. https://doi.org/10.4000/cybergeo.27526
Marino E, Lazrus H (2015) Migration or forced displacement?: the complex choices of climate change and disaster migrants in Shishmaref, Alaska and Nanumea, Tuvalu. Hum Organ 74:341–350. https://doi.org/10.17730/0018-7259-74.4.341
Masterson JP, Fienen MN, Thieler ER, Gesch DB, Gutierrez BT, Plant NG (2014) Effects of sea-level rise on barrier island groundwater system dynamics - ecohydrological implications. Ecohydrology 7:1064–1071. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1442
McCall G (1994) Nissology: a proposal for consideration. J Pac Soc 17:1–14
Mimura N et al (2007) Small islands. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change, vol 2007. Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 687–716
Muir D, Cooper JAG, Pétursdóttir G (2014) Challenges and opportunities in climate change adaptation for communities in Europe's northern periphery. Ocean Coastal Manag 94:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.03.017
Nunn PD, Aalbersberg W, Lata S, Gwilliam M (2014) Beyond the core: community governance for climate-change adaptation in peripheral parts of Pacific Island Countries. Reg Environ Chang 14:221–235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-013-0486-7
Nunn P, Kumar R (2018) Understanding climate-human interactions in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): implications for future livelihood sustainability. Int J Clim Chang Strateg Manag 10:245–271. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-01-2017-0012
Nurse LA et al. (2014) Small islands. In: Barros VR et al. (eds) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge; New York, pp 1613–1654. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2008.0015br
Nurse LA, Sem G, Hay JE, Suarez AG, Wong PP, Briguglio L, Ragoonaden S (2001) Small Island states. In: McCarthy JJ, Canziani OF, Leary NA, Dokken DJ, White KS (eds) Climate change 2001: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Ourbak T, Magnan AK (2017) The Paris agreement and climate change negotiations: small islands, big players Regional Environmental Change:1–7 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1247-9
Pelling M, Uitto JI (2001) Small island developing states: natural disaster vulnerability and global change Environmental Hazards 3:49–62 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1464-2867(01)00018-3
Petzold J (2016) Limitations and opportunities of social capital for adaptation to climate change: a case study on the Isles of Scilly. Geogr J 182:123–134. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12154
Petzold J, Ratter BMW (2018) Island vulnerability and resilience. In: Ratter BMW (ed) Geography of small islands. Outposts of globalisation. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 173–199. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63869-0_6
Petzold J, Ratter BMW, Holdschlag A (2018) Competing knowledge systems and adaptability to sea-level rise in The Bahamas. Area 50:91–100. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.12355
Pugh J (2013) Island movements: thinking with the archipelago. Island Stud J 8:9–24
Remling E, Veitayaki J (2016) Community-based action in Fiji’s Gau Island: a model for the Pacific? Int J Clim Change Strateg Manag 8:375–398. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm-07-2015-0101
Robinson S-a (2015) Climate change adaptation trends in small island developing states. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang 22:669–691. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-015-9693-5
Scandurra G, Romano AA, Ronghi M, Carfora A (2018) On the vulnerability of small island developing states: a dynamic analysis Ecol Indic 84:382–392 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.09.016
Schwebel MB (2018) Climate change perceptions and preparation in the United States’ territories in the Pacific: American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of The Northern Mariana Islands. Island Stud J 13:135–148. https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.57
Stojanov R, Duží B, Kelman I, Němec D, Procházka D (2016) Local perceptions of climate change impacts and migration patterns in Malé, Maldives. Geogr J. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12177
Stratford E, Baldacchino G, McMahon E, Farbotko C, Harwood A (2011) Envisioning the archipelago. Island Stud J 6:113–130
Tompkins EL (2005) Planning for climate change in small islands: insights from national hurricane preparedness in the Cayman Islands. Glob Environ Chang 15:139–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2004.11.002
UN-OHRLLS (n.d.) About the Small Island Developing States. http://unohrlls.org/about-sids/. Accessed 22/06/2018
UNFCCC (2005) Climate change, Small Island Developing States. Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC), Bonn
Veenendaal W (2018) Islands of democracy. Area:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.12462
Watts RL (2009) Island jurisdictions in comparative constitutional perspective. In: Baldacchino G, Milne D (eds) The case for non-sovereignty. Lessons from sub-national island jurisdictions. Routledge, London and New York, pp 21–39
Weir T, Pittock J (2017) Human dimensions of environmental change in small island developing states: some common themes. Reg Environ Chang 17:949–958. https://doi.org/10.1007/10113-017-1135-3
Wong PP et al. (2014) Coastal systems and low-lying areas. In: Field CB et al. (eds) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp 361–409
Young E, Muir D, Dawson A, Dawson S (2014) Community driven coastal management: an example of the implementation of a coastal defence bund on South Uist, Scottish Outer Hebrides. Ocean Coast Manag 94:30–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.01.001
Acknowledgements
A previous draft of this paper was presented at the International Small Islands Studies Association (ISISA) XVI ‘Islands of the World’ conference 2018, in Leeuwarden and Terschelling, The Netherlands.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
ESM 1
(DOCX 31 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Petzold, J., Magnan, A.K. Climate change: thinking small islands beyond Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Climatic Change 152, 145–165 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-018-2363-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-018-2363-3