“The Pacific, as we all know, is at the forefront of some of the dramatic and very, very transformative impacts of climate change: in the form of Category Five cyclones, in the form of oceanic transformation, the impact on reefs, the impact on marine life and atmospheric conditions in the Pacific that, over time, has led to erosion of small island states like Tuvalu and Kiribati and a few others. It is predicted that in the next 100 years or so, they may become uninhabitable, given the increase in sea level rise, as well as the impact of climate change in different ways. 

“So, it's very significant for the voices of small island states to be heard as well in the bigger context of debate in relation to adaptation. The [conference] programme is quite interrelated and interdisciplinary: [it includes] indigenous innovation and living ocean islands and futures, city settlements and infrastructure, food, water and biodiversity... a whole lot of things to bring together all these various expertise as a way of feeding into each other, supporting each other, and enriching not only the narratives, not only the research, but also the policies and the practical implications of how research can help in things such as just transition, in relation to how we can address the big issue of climate change.”

Why is this conference important for the Pacific region?

"This is the first time the AF2025 will be hosted in the Pacific and SPREP is a partner for the AF2025. It will bring together high-level government officials, academics, researchers, scientists, students, civil society actors, decisions-makers and representatives from all over the region and beyond to discuss contemporary issues and challenges facing the Pacific as a result of global warming and climate. It will be an opportunity to amplify the voice of the Pacific and also highlight the importance that all Pacific nations continue their efforts to build resilience through cooperation at the level of governments, collaboration with international and regional organisations, and partnership between private and public actors."

What will you be discussing at the conference? 

"The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) will be presenting in the various thematic areas of the AF2025 conference presenting lessons learnt and best practices on adaptation in the Pacific across its four mutual re-enforcing functions of capacity building, knowledge brokerage, research and innovation. The PCCC will also showcase its work in the Ocean Pacific Innovation Lounge, presenting papers with Pacific Island Countries and Territories on the lessons learnt and best practices across adaptation. It will also present a prestigious opportunity for strengthening partnerships for building resilience in the blue Pacific."

What else would you like to highlight?

"The Pacific Climate Change Centre is a regional asset, established to serve the Pacific in its collective fight against climate change through knowledge brokerage, applied research, innovation, and capacity building. The PCCC is underpinned by strong partnerships with Pacific Governments, applied research institutions, donors, civil society, and the private sector. It is a partnership between the Governments of Japan and Samoa, funded under grant aid through JICA for Samoa as the host country of SPREP with additional funding from the Government of New Zealand and Government of Australia."

"Climate change presents an existential threat to Pacific communities. It disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples of Pacific Small Island Developing States, yet it is only one facet of a multifaceted crisis. These communities exist in a state of flux, a perpetual state of recovery, as they simultaneously navigate economic pressures, narcotics, health pandemics, geopolitical tensions, the erosion of traditional food and social protection systems, a testing ground for development and climate innovations, among others. Accurate adaptation and resilience for Indigenous communities in this context is a holistic state that comprises the needs for healthier peoples (holistic wellbeing), robust socio-cultural ecosystems built on collective resource ownership and kinship, healthier catchments (ridge to Ocean), and an inclusive, sustainable community economy. This interdependence forms the foundation of sustainable existence. 

"In response, participatory development has emerged as a leading scientific and praxis-oriented model. It employs tools like participatory mapping and inclusive of Indigenous knowledge in dialogue to strengthen governance, enhance local capacity, and promote ecosystem protection. The goal is to empower communities to be self-reliant custodians of their future. However, a critical, often unstudied gap undermines this model, its temporality. In many cases when project timelines end and external actors depart, a power vacuum is created, leaving communities in a state of heightened vulnerability.

"The forces of disaster capitalism, shock doctrine or creative destruction systematically exploit this vacuum. Capitalists and extractive industries arrive with a direct, tempting offer: immediate cash for livelihood support and needs in exchange for long-term access to oceans for seabed mining, mountains for logging, materials from riverbeds, a beach for a foreign-owned five-star resort, and a foreign corporate interest in commercial agriculture, among other concessions. The crises, creating a state of collective disorientation and regression, make people willing to accept sweeping changes they would normally reject (shock therapy). 

"This leads to the dispossession of locals’ means of subsistence; the market is now their means of livelihood. Research has seen how this has really ravaged local Indigenous communities in many ways. This phenomenon represents a form of economic coercion, leveraging a chronic state of crisis to push through exploitative deals that promise short-term relief at the cost of long-term ecological and social devastation. The core conflict thus shifts from a theoretical debate about empowerment to a vicious choice between abstract, long-term resilience and concrete, immediate situations within communities.

"Current research in Pacific Small Island Developing States fails to adequately analyse the root cause: the drivers and mechanisms of economic coercion that fracture community solidarity and override carefully built consensus. Therefore, a new scientific praxis is urgently required. Inclusive of capacity building, the need to create community Immune Systems and fortifying community Sovereignty. This entails framing climate adaptation as a form of economic productive resistance, co-developing non-extractive economies, and forging long-term solidarity networks that help communities understand and resist predatory contracts. The ultimate measure of success is no longer just a community’s (Indigenous) knowledge, but its fortified ability to ensure that the collective good is stronger than the briefcase of cash.

"Using theoretical and autoethnographic approaches, I have navigated these multidimensional experiences (and discourses) with various tribes, including my own tribe in Fiji. With these shocks and devastation, and when you leave, they will still depend on a dilapidated socio-ecological system to survive."

Why is this conference important for the Pacific region?

“The Adaptation Futures Conference is critically important for the Pacific region because it provides a global platform to amplify Pacific voices and experiences in climate adaptation. The Pacific faces unique and urgent challenges due to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. This conference enables Pacific researchers, policymakers, and communities to share locally grounded solutions, advocate for climate justice, and influence international adaptation strategies that are inclusive and culturally responsive. It also fosters collaboration across regions, disciplines, and sectors that is essential for building resilient futures in the face of accelerating climate impacts.

What will you be discussing at the conference?

“I'll be discussing my latest research on ‘Staying with dignity’ that is showing how communities hit by climate change need not just the opportunity to move with dignity, but also the option to stay with dignity with a panel including various experts from across the region that will discuss learnings from Pacific communities at the forefront of climate change that have long put principles of dignity and equity at the centre of their calls for climate justice. These experiences offer valuable lessons for climate adaptation frameworks and policy on the making, underscoring the importance of inclusive governance and elevating the voices of those most affected.

“I’m also honoured to be part of the team organising and facilitating the Climate Adaptation Early Career Workshop on 12 October, alongside A/Prof Johanna Nalau, Dr. Ana Terra Amorim Maia, Dr. Estefania Arteaga, and Dr. Rebecca McNaught.  This workshop gathering a large audience of early career researchers is a unique opportunity to learn the latest developments in climate adaptation science and policy, connect with colleagues from across the globe, build networks and career pathways in the adaptation space.”

"In the Pacific, climate change isn’t just warming our oceans or shifting weather, it’s opening the door for invasive species to thrive, threatening biodiversity and the very systems Pacific communities rely on. Managing these species is no longer optional but central to climate resilience."

“Through regional efforts like PRISMSS, we’re restoring ecosystems, protecting biodiversity and showing the world how climate adaptation through sustainable solutions can be rooted in local knowledge and leadership."

Why is this conference important for the Pacific region?

"The Adaptation Futures Conference presents a vital space for the collective Pacific voice. Our islands are already feeling the impacts of climate change, rising seas, shifting ecosystems and increasing threats to biodiversity. But what’s often overlooked is how invasive species are compounding these challenges. They’re sneaking into fragile ecosystems, outcompeting native species and disrupting food systems, water sources and even cultural traditions. For the Pacific, adaptation isn’t optional, it’s survival. This conference gives us a chance to share our stories, sustainable solutions and leadership with the world."

What will you be discussing at the conference?

"We will be creating more awareness through interactive activities at the Oceania lounge about the climate, biodiversity and invasive species nexus and how it’s impacting Pacific Island Countries and Territories, by sharing insights on how climate change is accelerating the spread and impact of invasive species across the Pacific and what that means for biodiversity and livelihoods and what is being done about it. We will highlight some of the innovative, community-led approaches being used to manage these threats because adaptation isn’t just about science, it’s about people. We intend to highlight how these efforts are not just ecological, but deeply social and cultural. It’s about empowering Pacific communities to lead adaptation in ways that honour their knowledge and priorities."

What else would you like to highlight?

"One thing we would encourage reporters to take away is that the Pacific isn’t just a vulnerable region but a region of resilience, knowledge and leadership. Communities in the Pacific have been adapting for generations and there’s a lot the world can learn from how we respond to environmental change. This conference is a chance to amplify those voices and build partnerships that respect and support the Pacific priorities. Through PRISMSS, we’re working with communities to tackle invasive species and restoring native habitats, protecting endangered species and building resilience."