Introduction to the Book

Abstract

Scattered around the tropics and sub-tropics are several dozen states and sub-national jurisdictions considered to be Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This book sets out to explore vulnerable and resilient communities in SIDS, how these are and are not impacted by climate change, and how to evaluate mitigation and adaptation activities. It also identifies factors capable of enhancing or inhibiting the long-term ability of people in SIDS to deal with climate change, and critiques discourse, vocabulary, and constructions used around SIDS and their dealing with vulnerability and resilience in the context of climate change. The book is structured to capture three distinct approaches to the topic of vulnerability and resilience in SIDS: concepts and dimensions, sectors, and places, ranging from single countries to comparative analysis among several SIDS, across Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Climate change is adding a further layer of complexity to existing vulnerabilities and resiliences across SIDS, as shown in various chapters in this book. Many SIDS have managed to build and enhance their resilience, often by building on a set of norms and long-established practices that stem from a mix of tradition and innovation, spearheading mitigation and adaptation measures. We believe that the scholarly research included in this book is relevant both to academia and to policy, as it provides crucial evidence from the perspective of SIDS, sometimes involving communities excluded from, or at the margins of, mainstream research.