Communication, Collaboration, and Advocacy: A Study of Participatory Action Research to Address Climate Change in the Pacific
The science of climate change is a complex issue that presents challenges for regions, nations, local governments, and communities. This article describes a participatory action research project designed to develop new knowledge of how community members react to climate change and communication’s role in strengthening local resilience. The project has grown organically from an initial study, undertaken by one researcher to examine communication of climate change at the local level, into an intersectoral, interagency study. Partners in the study are connected by one vision: to facilitate grassroots, upward planning of sustainable climate change adaptation led by local end-users, and to amplify the Pacific Island Countries perspective of climate change to the world. The study’s theoretical framework draws upon literature from international development, communication, social science, and public policy. A qualitative case study examines whether the use of a reflexive, communicative approach can facilitate cross-sector interaction between climate scientists, policy makers, and local end-users to plan, implement and evaluate sustainable approaches to climate change. The case provides an example of applying participatory action research (PAR) as a way to communicate complex climate science by using specific context and evidence-based local experiences. The study demonstrates how the use of participatory action research has fostered the creation of horizontal and vertical multi-sector networks that have improved communication of climate science, and collaboration amongst all partners-including local end-users-and strengthened local advocacy in climate-related policy and planning decisions for the Pacific. This study demonstrates the potential of PAR as a method for reducing disconnect between science-policy-local interaction, and to build local and global intersectoral collaboration. Evidence-based research shows the linkages between theory and practice for organizations tasked with building community resilience. This innovative synthesis can aid in building PAR-led climate change adaptation across prevention, preparation and adaptation activities for potential climate elated hazards. Findings from this study are relevant to communities building resilience.
Farming adaptations to the impacts of climate change and extreme events in Pacific Island Countries: Case study of Bellona atoll, Solomon Islands
Farmers in Pacific Islands’ communities are considered to be most vulnerable to the impacts of increased temperature, sea-level rise, droughts, cyclones, and heavy rainfall. Farmers living on a raised atoll in the Solomon Islands (Bellona) were interviewed to understand their perceptions and experiences on the impacts of climate change and extreme events on their crops. Some examples of damage and impacts according to the farmers included rotting of roots, damage to leaves and branches, and destruction of fruits and valuable yields. Interviews also revealed that the ability of farmers to recover after disasters was dependent on their pre-disaster conditions, number and varieties of crops they had planted, type of cropping system in use, and consistent use of simple, traditional, and innovative adaptive techniques.Such techniques included crop rotation, change of planting and harvesting dates, and the planting of new resilient varieties.
Connecting the Dots: Policy Connections between Pacific Island Shipping and Global Carbon Dioxide and Pollutant Emission Reduction
The relationships between the global discourse on emissions reduction, particularly in regard to international shipping, and the need for more sustainable Pacific Island sea transport services are discussed. Renewable energy applications for such shipping are not currently considered in the drive to reduce fossil fuel dependency in the region. The domestic Pacific Island shipping scenario and international shipping and emissions reduction efforts are summarized. Data availability is limited; however, the authors extrapolate from Fiji data to give a ‘best guess’ of the likely range of emissions produced by the Pacific Island shipping and argue that reduction targets are achievable based on results of experiments in the last oil crisis. Five policy areas are identified that connect the local need with the global discourse and give rise to the promotion of sustainable, low-carbon maritime transport for this unique region.
A review of sustainable sea-transport for Oceania: Providing context for renewable energy shipping for the Pacific
This paper summarises research and options for sustainable sea transport in Oceania with a focus on domestic shipping. This debate is situated initially within the context of the current Pacific domestic shipping scenario, a region of minute economies connected by some of the longest sea transport routes in the world. All current options are fossil fuel powered and increasingly uneconomic and unsustainable. Many routes are marginal or unviable and a vicious cycle of old ships replaced with old ships prevails. Although a central and essential issue of many Pacific communities, the option of pursuing sustainable sea transport is currently invisible within the policy space at all levels. Various renewable energy options are possible and increasingly available. Recent research finds that these have strong potential for providing benefits across multiple wellbeings. The barriers to pursing this agenda are complex and poorly understood but are perceptual and institutional more than technological. A small number of critical experiments during the last oil crisis provide critical lessons and direction.