Building climate change resilience in the Pacific
ISF takes climate change resilience research into communities in Fiji, Kiribati and Timor-Leste.
Increasing climate change challenges are expected to affect every region worldwide. Yet, it's marginalised communities who are facing the harshest impacts both now and in the future, despite historically contributing the least to the issue.
To better understand local experiences of climate change and demonstrations of resilience, the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) is developing case studies for the Australia Pacific Climate Partnership, which supports DFAT to integrate climate change across the aid program. The case studies will help to inform DFAT programs, and Pacific aid and development partners working on climate and disaster resilience. These case studies explore community resilience in Fiji, Kiribati, and Timor-Leste.
Informing resilient development strategies in Fiji
In Fiji, ISF collaborated with the Women's Fund Fiji and the Naitasiri Women's Dairy Group to understand community resilience amidst climate change and disasters in Waikalou community, Viti Levu. Through extensive consultations involving 118 participants, the ISF team finished its five-day research with a community-wide workshop to share insights and collectively prioritise strengths contributing to resilience.
Women from Waikalou community in Fiji participate in a focus group discussion
Learning about community resilience to climate change in Kiribati
Similarly, in Kiribati, ISF partnered with Live and Learn Kiribati to explore climate resilience experiences in Betio, South Tarawa. Through interviews and focus group discussions involving diverse community members including men, women, youth and people with disabilities, challenges such as extreme heat and coastal erosion were uncovered. Community members emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts, sustainable resource management, and preserving cultural practices to enhance community resilience.
Youth from Betio prioritise the strengths of their community at the final workshop
Climate resilience in the Morcoluli Village of Timor-Leste
In Timor-Leste, the ISF team collaborated closely with PARTISIPA to delve into the perspectives and experiences of resilience to climate change in Morcoluli, located in the Manufahi Municipality.
Over four days, the research team engaged in interviews, focus group discussions, and a community workshop with a wide spectrum of participants, including village leaders, women, men, youth, people with disabilities, and elders.
As for the other case studies, the objective was to gain insights into the diverse experiences of climate change, its varying impacts across different demographic groups, and the resilience strategies adopted by each of these groups.
Men in Morcoluli share their experiences of climate and disaster risks in a focus group discussion activity, by drawing a timeline of events over the last 20 years
The findings from all three countries will culminate in three case study reports to be disseminated among case study partners, communities, DFAT and Pacific aid and development partners, highlighting the role of community-driven initiatives in bolstering resilience. A synthesis report will also provide DFAT with overarching insights and lessons to help inform future climate resilient investments, including the upcoming Climate Resilient Communities investment.
