Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Who defines “good” climate change adaptation and why it matters: a case study from Abaiang Island, Kiribati

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Regional Environmental Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pacific Island Countries, despite significant variation in levels of exposure and internal adaptive capacities, are often portrayed homogenously as the world’s most vulnerable region to climate change. As such over the past few decades, a plethora of projects intended to assist communities across the region adapt to future climate change have been developed, channelled through multilateral and bilateral funding mechanisms and implemented in communities across a range of countries. Whether such adaptation projects have been effective in reducing the vulnerability of targeted groups remains unclear. This paper evaluates a climate change adaptation project focused on food security implemented across two communities on Abaiang Island, Kiribati (central Pacific). The project was independently evaluated using the following criteria: appropriateness, equity, efficacy, impact, and sustainability. Data was gathered from focus groups with recipient community members (n = 84) supplemented by interviews (n = 26) with relevant local stakeholders involved in implementation. Results show that while the project inputs (such as tangible and intangible goods and services) were provided, the outcomes of the project were largely ineffective and unsustained amongst the target communities. The main lesson is that local contextual factors—be they social norms, environmental, or local governance and decision-making structures—must be clearly identified, meaningfully acknowledged, and accounted for when designing and implementing local-level adaptation initiatives. This then raises broader questions about who is currently, and who should be defining “good” adaptation. The answer to this question has ramifications for social justice as well as broader issues for developing effective sustainable responses to the challenges of climate change in such places.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adger NW, Arnett N, Tompkins E (2005) Successful adaptation to climate change across scales. Glob Environ Chang 15:77–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2004.12.005

  • Allen M (2015) Framing food security in the Pacific Islands: empirical evidence from an island in the Western Pacific. Reg Environ Chang 15(7):1341–1353. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-014-0734-5

  • Althor G, Watson JEM, Fuller RA (2016) Global mismatch between greenhouse gas emissions and the burden of climate change. Sci Rep 6(1):20281. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep20281

  • Arora-Jonsson S (2011) Virtue and vulnerability: discourses on women, gender and climate change. Glob Environ Chang 21:744–751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.01.005

  • Asian Development Bank, 2007. ‘priorities of the people: hardship in Kiribati’, viewed May 27 2016 at https://www.adb.org/publications/priorities-people-hardship-kiribati>

  • Ayers J, Forsyth T (2009) Community-based adaptation to climate change. Environ Sci Policy Sustain Dev 51(4):22–31. https://doi.org/10.3200/ENV.51.4.22-31

  • Barnett J (2008) The effect of aid on capacity to adapt to climate change: insights from Niue. Political Science 60(1):31–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/003231870806000104

  • Barnett J, Campbell J (2010) Climate change and small island states: power, knowledge, and the South Pacific, London. Earthscan, Sterling

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett J, McMichael C (2018) The effects of climate change on the geography and timing of human mobility. Popul Environ 39(4):339–356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-018-0295-5

  • Barrowman H, Kumar M (2018) Conceptions of vulnerability in adaptation projects: a critical examination of the role of development aid agencies in Timor-Leste. Reg Environ Chang 18(8):2355–2367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-018-1333-7

  • Boyd E, Juhola S (2009) Stepping up to the climate change: opportunities in re-conceptualising development futures. J Int Dev 21(6):792–804. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.1619

  • Bryant-Tokalau J (2018) Indigenous Pacific approaches to climate change: Pacific Island countries. Palgrave, Cham

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Buggy L, McNamara KE (2015) The need to reinterpret “community” for climate change adaptation: a case study of Pele Island, Vanuatu. Clim Dev 8(3):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2015.1041445

  • Cameron J (2016) Focusing on the focus group. In Hay, I (Ed.) Qualitative research methods in human geography, 4th edn. Oxford University Press, Don Mills

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke T, McNamara KE, Clissold R, Nunn PD (2019) Community-based adaptation to climate change: lessons from Tanna Island, Vanuatu. Island Studies Journal 14(1):59–80. https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.80

  • Cleaver F (2009) Rethinking agency, rights, and natural resource management. In: Hickey, Mitlin (eds) Rights-based approaches to development: exploring the potential and pitfalls. Kumarian Press, Sterling, VA, pp 127–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Clissold R, McNamara KE (2019) Exploring local perspectives on the performance of a community-based adaptation project on Aniwa, Vanuatu. Clim Dev 11:8. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2019.1640656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dean A, Green D, Nunn P (2016) Too much sail for a small craft? Donor requirements, scale, and capacity discourses in Kiribati. In: Stratford E (ed) Island geographies: essays and conversations. Routledge, London, pp 67–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodman D, Mitlin D (2013) Challenges for community-based adaptation: discovering the potential for transformation. J Int Dev 25(5):640–659. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.1772

  • Donner SD (2015) Fantasy island. Sci Am 312(3):56–63. https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0315-56

  • Dumaru P (2010) Community-based adaptation: enhancing community adaptive capacity in Druadrua Island, Fiji. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Clim Chang 1(5):751–763. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.65

  • Eisenack K, Moser SC, Hoffmann E, Klein RJT, Oberlack C, Pechan A, Rotter M, Termeer CJAM (2014) Explaining and overcoming barriers to climate change adaptation. Nat Clim Chang 4(10):867–872. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2350

  • Ensor JJ, Abernethy KE, Hoddy ET, Aswani S, Albert S, Vaccaro I, Benedict JJ, Beare DJ (2018) Variation in perception of environmental change in nine Solomon Islands communities: implications for securing fairness in community-based adaptation. Reg Environ Chang 18(4):1131–1143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1242-1

  • Faulkner L, Ayers J, Huq S (2015) Meaningful measurement for community-based adaptation. In: Bours D, McGinn C, Pringle P (eds) Monitoring and evaluation of climate change adaptation: A review of the landscape. N Dir Eval, vol 147, pp 89–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Few R, Brown K, Tompkins EL (2007) Public participation and climate change adaptation: avoiding the illusion of inclusion. Clim Pol 7(1):46–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2007.9685637

  • Forsyth T (2013) Community-based adaptation: a review of past and future challenges. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Clim Chang 4(5):439–446. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.231

  • Füssel H-M (2007) Vulnerability: a generally applicable conceptual framework for climate change research. Glob Environ Chang 17:155–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.05.002

  • Government of Kiribati et al. 2016. Abaiang Island, Kiribati: a whole-of-island integrated vulnerability assessment. Jointly prepared by the Government of Kiribati and Kiribati National Expert Group (KNEG), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmdH

  • Heltberg S, Jorgensen (2009) Addressing human vulnerability to climate change: toward a ‘no-regrets’ approach. Glob Environ Chang 19(1):89–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.11.003

  • Huq S, Reid H. 2007. Community-based adaptation: a vital approach to the threat climate change poses to the poor. International Institute for Environment and Development Briefing. Viewed 10 March 2019 at <http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/17005IIED.pdf>

  • Inderberg T, Eriksen S, O’Brien K, Sygna L (2015) Climate change adaptation and development: transforming paradigms and practices. Routledge, Oxon

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson G, McNamara K, Witt B (2017) A framework for disaster vulnerability in a small island in the Southwest Pacific: a case study of Emae Island, Vanuatu. Int J Disaster Risk Sci 8(4):358–373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-017-0145-6

  • Jamero ML, Onuki M, Esteban M, Tan N (2018) Community-based adaptation in low-lying islands in the Philippines: challenges and lessons learned. Reg Environ Chang 18(8):1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-018-1332-8

  • Kelman I (2014) No change from climate change: vulnerability and small island developing states. Geogr J 180(2):120–129. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12019

  • Kempf W (2017) Climate change, Christian religion and songs: revisiting the Noah story in the central Pacific. In: Dürr E, Pascht A (eds) Environmental Transformation and Cultural Responses. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, pp 19–48

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Klöck C, Nunn (2019) Adaptation to climate change in small island developing states: a systematic literature review of academic research. Journal of Environment & Development 28:2. https://doi.org/10.1177/1070496519835895

  • Kuruppu N (2009) Adapting water resources to climate change in Kiribati: the importance of cultural values and meanings. Environ Sci Policy 12(7):799–809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2009.07.005

  • Lamhauge, N., E. Lanzi and S. Agrawala. 2012. Monitoring and evaluation for adaptation: lessons from development co-operation agencies, OECD Environment Working Papers, No. 38, OECD Publishing

  • Lefale P (2010) Ua ‘afa le Aso stormy weather today: traditional ecological knowledge of weather and climate. The Samoa experience. Clim Chang 100(2):317–335. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-009-9722-z

  • Mallin MAFF (2018) From sea-level rise to seabed grabbing: the political economy of climate change in Kiribati. Mar Policy 97:244–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.04.021

  • McCubbin S, Smit B, Pearce T (2015) Where does climate fit? Vulnerability to climate change in the context of multiple stressors in Funafuti, Tuvalu. Glob Environ Chang 30:43–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.10.007

  • Mcleod E, Arora-Jonsson S, Masuda YJ, Bruton-Adams M, Emaurois CO, Gorong B, Hudlow CJ, James R, Kuhlken H, Masike-Liri B, Musrasrik-Carl E, Otzelberger A, Relang K, Reyuw BM, Sigrah B, Stinnett C, Tellei J, Whitford L (2018) Raising the voices of Pacific Island women to inform climate adaptation policies. Mar Policy 93:178–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.03.011

  • McNamara K (2013) Taking stock of community-based climate-change adaptation projects in the P acific. Asia Pac Viewp 54(3):398–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/apv.12033

  • McNamara KE, Buggy L (2016) Community-based climate change adaptation: a review of academic literature. Local Environ 22(4):1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2016.1216954

  • McNamara KE, Prasad E (2014) Coping with extreme weather: communities in Fiji and Vanuatu share their experiences and knowledge. Clim Chang 123(2):121–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-1047-2

  • McNamara KE, Clissold R, Piggott-McKellar A, Buggy L, Azfa A (2018) What is shaping vulnerability to climate change? The case of Laamu Atoll, Maldives. Isl Stud J 14(1):81–100. https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.67

  • Mimura, N., R.S. Pulwarty, D.M. Duc, I. Elshinnawy, M.H. Redsteer, H.Q. Huang, J.N. Nkem, and R.A. Sanchez Rodriguez, 2014. Adaptation planning and implementation. In: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Field, C.B., V.R. Barros, D.J. Dokken, K.J. Mach, M.D. Mastrandrea, T.E. Bilir, M. Chatterjee, K.L. Ebi, Y.O. Estrada, R.C. Genova, B. Girma, E.S. Kissel, A.N. Levy, S. MacCracken, P.R. Mastrandrea, and L.L. White (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 869–898

    Google Scholar 

  • Moser SC, Ekstrom JA (2010) A framework to diagnose barriers to climate change adaptation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(51):22026–22031. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1007887107

  • Murtinho F, Eakin H, López-Carr D, Hayes T (2013) Does external funding help adaptation? Evidence from community-based water Management in the Colombian Andes. Environ Manag 52(5):1103–1114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0156-z

  • Nagoda S (2015) New discourses but same old development approaches? Climate change adaptation policies, chronic food insecurity and development interventions in northwestern Nepal. Glob Environ Chang 35:570–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.08.014

  • National Statistics Office 2016. 2015 Population and housing census. Viewed January 10 2019 at, <http://www.mfed.gov.ki/statistics/documents/2015_Population_Census_Report_Volume_1final_211016.pdf>

  • Nunn PD (2009) Responding to the challenges of climate change in the Pacific Islands: management and technological imperatives. Clim Res 40(2–3):211–231. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr00806

  • Nunn PD (2013) The end of the Pacific? Effects of sea level rise on Pacific Island livelihoods. Singap J Trop Geogr 34(2):143–171. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjtg.12021

  • 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(1):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). Int J Clim Chang Strateg Manag 10(2):245–271. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-01-2017-0012

  • Nunn PD, Kumar R (2019) Cashless adaptation to climate change in developing countries: unwelcome yet unavoidable? One Earth 1:31–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-016-1646-9

  • Nunn PD, Mulgrew K, Scott-Parker B, Hine DW, Marks ADG, Mahar D, Maebuta J (2016) Spirituality and attitudes towards nature in the Pacific Islands: insights for enabling climate-change adaptation. Clim Chang 136(3–4):477–493

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nurse L, McLean R, Agard J, Briguglio LP, Duvat V, Pelesikoti N, Tompkins E, Webb A (2014) Small islands. In: Barros VR, Field CB, Dokken DJ, Mastrandrea MD, Mach KJ, Bilir TE, Chatterjee M, Ebi KL, Estrada YO, Genova RC, Girma B, Kissel ES, Levy AN, MacCracken S, Mastrandrea PR, White LL (eds) Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part B: Regional Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien K, Eriksen S, Nygaard L, Schjolden A (2007) Why different interpretations of vulnerability matter in climate change discourses. Clim Policy 7(1):73–88. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2007.9685639

  • O’Brien K, Eriksen S, Inderberg TH, Sygna L (2015) Climate change and development: adaptation through transformation. In: Inderberg TH, Eriksen S, O’Brien K, Sygna L (eds) Climate change adaptation and development: changing paradigms and practices. London, Routledge, pp 273–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Pacific Islands Report (2017) Kiribati opposition warns of excessive copra subsidy, viewed on 28 May 2019 <http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/08/09/kiribati-opposition-urges-government-review-copra-subsidy>

  • Pelling M (2011) Adaptation to climate change: from resilience to transformation. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Picciotto R (2013) The logic of development effectiveness: is it time for the broader evaluation community to take notice? Evaluation 19(2):155–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piggott-McKellar AE, McNamara KE, Nunn PD, Sekinini ST (2020) Dam(n) seawalls: a case of maladaptation in Fiji. In: Leal Filho W (ed) Managing climate change adaptation in the Pacific region. Springer, Cham

    Google Scholar 

  • Piggott-McKellar A, McNamara KE, Nunn PD, Sekinini ST (2019a) Moving people in a changing climate: lessons from two case studies in Fiji. Soc Sci 8:133. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci8050133

  • Piggott-McKellar AE, McNamara KE, Nunn PD, Watson JEM (2019b) What are the barriers to successful community-based climate change adaptation? A review of grey literature. Local Environ 24(4):374–390. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2019.1580688

  • Reid H (2016) Ecosystem and community-based adaptation: learning from community-based natural resource management. Clim Dev 8(1):1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2015.1034233

  • Reid H, Schipper L (2014) Upscaling community-based adaptation: an introduction to the edited 726 volume. In: Schipper LF, Ayers J, Reid H, Huq S, Rahman A (eds) Communtiy-based adaptation to climate change: scaling it up. Routledge, Abingdon, pp 3–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Remling E, Veitayaki J (2016) Community-based action in Fiji’s Gau Island: a model for the Pacific? Int J Clim Chang Strateg Manag 8(3):375–398. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-07-2015-0101

  • Ribot J (2011) Vulnerability before adaptation: towards transformative climate action. Glob Environ Chang 21:1160–1162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.07.008

  • Rudiak-Gould P (2012) Promiscuous corroboration and climate change translation: a case study from the Marshall Islands. Global Environmental Change-Human and Policy Dimensions 22:46–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.09.011

  • Scott-Parker B, Kumar R (2018) Fijian adolescents’ understanding and evaluation of climate change: implications for enabling effective future adaptation. Asia Pac Viewp 59(1):47–59. https://doi.org/10.1111/apv.12184

  • Spires M, Shackleton S, Cundill G (2014) Barriers to implementing planned community-based adaptation in developing countries: a systematic literature review. Clim Dev 6(3):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2014.886995

  • Sovacool B, Linnér K, Klein B-O (2017) Climate change adaptation and the least developed countries fund (LDCF): qualitative insights from policy implementation in the Asia-Pacific. Clim Chang 140(2):209–226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-016-1839-2

  • Thomas F (2002) Self-reliance in Kiribati: contrasting views of agricultural and fisheries production. Geogr J 168:163–177. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-4959.00045

  • Tu’akoi S, Vickers MH, Tairea K, Aung YYM, Tamarua-Herman N, Ofanoa M, Bay JL (2018) The significance of DOHaD for Small Island developing states. J Dev Orig Health Dis 9(5):487–491. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2040174418000466

  • United Nations. 2015. Paris Agreement 25. Retrieved from: http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf

  • Webb AP, Kench PS (2010) The dynamic response of reef islands to sea-level rise: evidence from multi-decadal analysis of island change in the Central Pacific. Glob Planet Chang 72(3):234–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2010.05.003

  • Webber S (2013) Performative vulnerability: climate change adaptation policies and financing in Kiribati. Environ Plan A 45(11):2717–2733. https://doi.org/10.1068/a45311

  • Weir T, Dovey L, Orcherton D (2016) Social and cultural issues raised by climate change in Pacific Island countries: an overview. Reg Environ Chang 17(4):1017–1028. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-016-1012-5

  • Weir T, Virani Z (2011) Three linked risks for development in the Pacific Islands: climate change, disasters and conflict. Clim Dev 3(3):193–208. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2011.603193

  • Westoby R, McNamara KE, Kumar R, Nunn PD (2019) From community-based to locally led adaptation: evidence from Vanuatu. Ambio.:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01294-8

  • World Bank 2018. Kiribati - Health financing system assessment: Spend Better, viewed 29 October 2019 at,\ <http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/471011528376870220/Kiribati-Health-financing-system-assessment-spend-better>

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Annah E. Piggott-McKellar & Karen E. McNamara

  2. School of Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia

    Patrick D. Nunn

Authors
  1. Annah E. Piggott-McKellar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karen E. McNamara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Patrick D. Nunn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annah E. Piggott-McKellar.

Ethics declarations

Ethical procedures under the guidelines of the University of Queensland were followed. This involved the use of participant information sheets where the information of the study was written in Kiribati and read to the participants with the recognition that they were able to ask questions about the study and to ensure that the information was being freely given and the process transparent. Consent forms were then signed by a representative of the group.

Additional information

Communicated by Debbie Ley

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Piggott-McKellar, A.E., McNamara, K.E. & Nunn, P.D. Who defines “good” climate change adaptation and why it matters: a case study from Abaiang Island, Kiribati. Reg Environ Change 20, 43 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-020-01614-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-020-01614-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation