Community-Based Human Ecological Research for Climate Change Adaptation: Taking Faith and Culture Seriously

Abstract

Communities across the South Pacific region have worldviews grounded in cultural traditions where faith has a central role. In contrast, agencies concerned with climate change adaptation are usually focused on the role of science, and often adopt an attitude of having to educate communities about climate change. A consequence of this is that agencies risk marginalizing communities, as well as overlooking the substantive role cultural traditions, including faith, have for successful adaptation.

The natural environment, and climate change, as well as sustainable development, are found to be profoundly understood by communities in the South Pacific. The chapter argues that the cultural traditions of these communities have wisdom to contribute to management of climate change, through how they maintain and enhance the well-being of communities.

Based on human ecological research in the South Pacific over a period of three decades, a framework is proffered for management of climate change. The conceptual model critically builds upon the discipline of environmental anthropology, to argue for a focus on well-being to ensure evolutionary adaptation, and hence social transformation required to manage climate change.

The original framework is illustrated with an example from Kiribati, and also one from Fiji, to substantiate parts of how the framework is used to develop proactive adaptive management. The central role of transformative leadership and how it is understood in the South Pacific is outlined, along with a description of how to broaden the scope of what is considered research and authoritative knowledge.