Paper short abstract:

Pacific island states are particularly at risk from the catastrophic impacts of the climate emergency. To what extent do those, particularly from former British and French colonies, understand and are able to respond to the challenges of ocean level rise and more extreme weather?

Paper long abstract:

The International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) reports the question is no longer whether sea-level rise will exceed 0.8 m, but rather when this will happen. Even if national governments meet their Paris agreement GreenHouse Gas emissions (GHGs) pledges, a global mean temperature rise of between 2.1°C and 3.3°C by 2100 is predicted. These climate predictions and models are constantly being revised as impacts of the climate emergency accelerate. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are recognised by the UN as particularly at risk from catastrophic climatic effects. Pacific island populations are generally concentrated along coastlines, due to transportation ease, reliance on tourism for income, and livelihoods tied to marine resources. The majority of Pacific SIDS are low-lying islands, leaving them more vulnerable to increasingly extreme weather and rising sea levels. Estimates suggest that up to 1.7 million people in the region will migrate or be displaced by 2050 in planned relocation of communities, migration from rural to urban areas (or to main islands), and cross-border migration.

This study uses existing literature to investigate the impact on Pacific SIDS populations, building a comprehensive picture determining the extent island to which communities understand the unprecedented changes happening around them, analysing their sense of agency and empowerment concerning effective response options. It will focus on former British and French overseas territories, investigating to what extent these former colonial territories bear the brunt of climate change impacts, caused by GHG emissions and practices of their former rulers and others in the Global North.