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Sinking Islands, Drowned Logic; Climate Change and Community-Based Adaptation Discourses in Solomon Islands

Author

Listed:
  • Jan van der Ploeg

    (Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia)

  • Meshach Sukulu

    (WorldFish, Honiara PO Box 438, Solomon Islands)

  • Hugh Govan

    (School of Government, Development and International Affairs, University of the South Pacific, Suva 9072, Fiji)

  • Tessa Minter

    (Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Leiden University, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands)

  • Hampus Eriksson

    (Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia
    WorldFish, Honiara PO Box 438, Solomon Islands)

Abstract

The saltwater people of Solomon Islands are often portrayed to be at the frontline of climate change. In media, policy, and development discourses, the erosion and abandonment of the small, man-made islands along the coast of Malaita is attributed to climate change induced sea-level rise. This paper investigates this sinking islands narrative, and argues that a narrow focus on the projected impacts of climate change distracts attention and resources from more pressing environmental and development problems that are threatening rural livelihoods.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan van der Ploeg & Meshach Sukulu & Hugh Govan & Tessa Minter & Hampus Eriksson, 2020. "Sinking Islands, Drowned Logic; Climate Change and Community-Based Adaptation Discourses in Solomon Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:7225-:d:408522
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Omukuti, Jessica & Barrett, Sam & White, Piran C.L. & Marchant, Robert & Averchenkova, Alina, 2022. "The green climate fund and its shortcomings in local delivery of adaptation finance," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115623, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Janne von Seggern, 2020. "Understandings, Practices and Human-Environment Relationships—A Meta-Ethnographic Analysis of Local and Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies in Selected Pacific Island States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. van der Ploeg, J. & Jupiter, S. & Hughes, A. & Eriksson, H. & Boso, D. & Govan, H., 2020. "Coral reef conservation in Solomon Islands: Overcoming the policy implementation gap," Monographs, The WorldFish Center, number 40902, April.
    5. Daniele Conversi, 2021. "Exemplary Ethical Communities. A New Concept for a Livable Anthropocene," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, May.

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