Failing adaptation in island contexts: the growing need for transformational change

Abstract

Many islands are being visibly impacted by climate change to which they are disproportionately exposed. This situation requires a shift away from reactive shortterm responses to longer-term transformational adaptation. For this to be effective, the singularity of island environments and societies should be acknowledged and optimal ways of management and engagement identified. There is considerable potential to learn from past intervention failures in island contexts. The importance of aligning adaptation needs with interventions underpins such transformational change, which on islands principally involves the relocation of vulnerable (coastal) communities and infrastructure to less-vulnerable (inland) places, as well as other transformations such as changing livelihoods and qualityof-life improvements. Successful transformational adaptation also requires that all actors involved change their current attitudes and re-evaluate how they can contribute to adaptation that is effective and sustainable in island contexts.

Path Dependency and Future Adaptation of Coastal Cities: Examples From the Asia-Pacific

“…Much of Nadi is flood-prone, a result of combined delta subsidence and sea-level rise currently around 4 mm/year (Nunn, 2013) and it seems clear that the nature and pace of recent coastal developments here is incompatible with the accelerating rate of climate change (Bernard and Cook, 2015;Chandra and Gaganis, 2016;Nerem and Fasullo, 2019). In particular, the subsidence-enhanced effects of sea-level rise on the Nadi fringe and the projected increase in average tropicalcyclone strength both signal the need for transformative adaptation of functionality and production in the Nadi area, as elsewhere in the Pacific Islands region (Nunn and McNamara, 2019).…”

“…Among the independent island nations of the Pacific, there is little appetite for costly disruptive transformational adaptation to future climate change of a kind that academics and others are increasing recognizing as necessary to avoid far more costly and disruptive incremental adaptation (Klöck and Nunn, 2019;Nunn and Kumar, 2019;Nunn and McNamara, 2019).…”

“…In urban centers like Nadi, it is likely a tipping point will be reached at some future time when, perhaps as a result of the lowest part of Nadi being permanently underwater for several months, it will be realized by authorities (and their donor partners) that in-situ adaptation is no longer a rational future option. This will force transformational adaptation, in this case the relocation of key functions to the Nadi hinterland (Nunn and Kumar, 2019;Nunn and McNamara, 2019).…”

The future of Caribbean endemic bird conservation in the Anthropocene

“…Across the islands, the multiple demands on limited funds means that money for environmental projects is often diverted to sectors with a higher perceived immediate need (Scobie 2016). Further, the project-driven funding culture that is widespread in Small Island Developing States constrains capacity development and long-term financial sustainability, monitoring, and evaluation (Scobie 2016, Nunn andMcNamara 2019).…”

“…We see this as an opportunity for the Caribbean to lead the way during the re-negotiation of the Aichi Targets and reconceptualize how we achieve landscape conservation. Yet, the diversity of island voices are often drowned out during international negotiations (Nunn and McNamara 2019). Countering this demands engagement by all stakeholders to influence policy makers.…”