Collaboration is key to climate change response in Pacific Islands

Researchers in Australia and the Pacific Islands have evaluated the success of grass-roots projects which aim to help Pacific Island communities adapt and respond to climate change. The team reviewed the performance of 32 community-based adaptation initiatives across 20 rural communities in the Pacific. Their findings suggest that local approval and ownership, shared access to and benefit from initiatives, integration of local realities (for example, culture and its shared beliefs, shared metaphors and folklore), and forward planning, were key to the success of these initiatives. They say that international donors should prepare and support communities to lead their own efforts to adapt to climate change.