Abstract
PurposeWhile the South Pacific is often cited as highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, there is comparatively little known about how different groups perceive climate change. Understanding the gaps and differences between risk and perceived risk is a prerequisite to designing effective and sustainable adaptation strategies.Design/methodology/approachThis research examined three key groups in Samoa, Fiji and Vanuatu: secondary school teachers, media personnel, and rural subsistence livelihood-based communities that live near or in conservation areas. This study deployed a dual methodology of participatory focus groups, paired with a national mobile phone based survey to gauge perceptions of climate change. This was the first time mobile technology had been used to gather perceptual data regarding the environment in the South Pacific.FindingsThe research findings highlighted a number of important differences and similarities in ways that these groups perceive climate change issues, solutions, personal vulnerability and comprehension of science among other factors.Practical implicationsThese differences and similarities are neglected in large-scale top-down climate change adaptation strategies and have key implications for the design of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and therefore sustainable development in the region.Originality/valueThe research was innovative in terms of its methods, as well as its distillation of the perceptions of climate change from teachers, media and rural communities.
Highlights
IntroductionIt is increasingly appreciated that perceptions of climate change and environmental risk influence the degree and nature of adaptation actions taken at the community level (Adger et al, 2005; Leiserowitz, 2006; Mortreux and Barnett, 2009)
It is widely predicted that the impacts of climate change in the South Pacific will arrive comparatively early and be severely felt (Barnett and Campbell, 2010; Walsh et al, 2012), and climate change and its negative impacts will present major obstacles and challenges to sustainable development in the region (UNOHRLLS, 2009).It is increasingly appreciated that perceptions of climate change and environmental risk influence the degree and nature of adaptation actions taken at the community level (Adger et al, 2005; Leiserowitz, 2006; Mortreux and Barnett, 2009)
Samoan teachers agreed that climate change was an important issue; they felt constrained by the lack of training, education and resources and, felt unable to communicate climate change to their pupils effectively
Summary
It is increasingly appreciated that perceptions of climate change and environmental risk influence the degree and nature of adaptation actions taken at the community level (Adger et al, 2005; Leiserowitz, 2006; Mortreux and Barnett, 2009). There is a comparative lack of research and knowledge on how different areas and groups in the South Pacific perceive climate change (Lata and Nunn, 2012). Adapting to climate change without considering the knowledge and capacity that exists at the local level is likely to lead to failure and maladaptation (Mercer et al, 2012). In order to develop effective adaptation strategies, it is important to understand how different communities and groups in the South Pacific perceive climate change
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