92
G. Jackson and A. Piggott-McKellar
In Kiribati, climate change discussions and messaging are widespread. People
are aware of the term ‘climate change’ and can point to particular changes in the
environment and associate them with climate change impacts. For example, I-Kiribati
often link climate change to their experiences of hotter temperatures, less predictable
rainfall, changing coastal dynamics, and saltwater intrusion. This was illustrated
during fieldwork where people detailed how they previously grew bwai bwai (a local
root crop) for decades in traditional bwai bwai pits in certain parts of Abaiang Island.
Owing to saltwater inundation, they could no longer grow them in these areas (see
Fig. 5.3). People also related significant impacts from coastal erosion, which has
destroyed many trees, directly relating these changes and experiences to climate
change (Fig. 5.3).
Despite this practical and experiential understanding of climate change impacting
the local environment and people’s livelihoods, as well as scientific information
disseminated to people regarding the causes of climate change, attribution of these
changes is often filtered through people’s religious beliefs. In discussions with
local government workers and NGO representatives who have regular contact with
communities working on climate change adaptation projects, the following example
responses were given about how people perceive climate change information:
The Christians, we believe that God looks after everyone and decides what happens so they
just put their faith in God and say there won’t be any climate change because God will be
kind to us.
We don’t believe climate change will happen, we don’t believe there is a second flood coming
because in the Bible it says there was only one and that was in the time of Noah.
This shows that beliefs about the religious determinism of climate change are
prevalent in Kiribati today, as indeed they are in neighbouring island countries
(Kempf 2017). These underlying worldviews have been identified by external actors
working with local communities as one of the biggest challenges to overcome in
successfully implementing climate change adaptation projects in the region. This
situation contrasts with that of the Bedamuni who, while also not subscribing to
Fig. 5.3 Left: Erosion evident along the coastline of Abaiang Island; Right: abandoned bwai bwai
pits that became filled with saltwater
G. Jackson and A. Piggott-McKellar
In Kiribati, climate change discussions and messaging are widespread. People
are aware of the term ‘climate change’ and can point to particular changes in the
environment and associate them with climate change impacts. For example, I-Kiribati
often link climate change to their experiences of hotter temperatures, less predictable
rainfall, changing coastal dynamics, and saltwater intrusion. This was illustrated
during fieldwork where people detailed how they previously grew bwai bwai (a local
root crop) for decades in traditional bwai bwai pits in certain parts of Abaiang Island.
Owing to saltwater inundation, they could no longer grow them in these areas (see
Fig. 5.3). People also related significant impacts from coastal erosion, which has
destroyed many trees, directly relating these changes and experiences to climate
change (Fig. 5.3).
Despite this practical and experiential understanding of climate change impacting
the local environment and people’s livelihoods, as well as scientific information
disseminated to people regarding the causes of climate change, attribution of these
changes is often filtered through people’s religious beliefs. In discussions with
local government workers and NGO representatives who have regular contact with
communities working on climate change adaptation projects, the following example
responses were given about how people perceive climate change information:
The Christians, we believe that God looks after everyone and decides what happens so they
just put their faith in God and say there won’t be any climate change because God will be
kind to us.
We don’t believe climate change will happen, we don’t believe there is a second flood coming
because in the Bible it says there was only one and that was in the time of Noah.
This shows that beliefs about the religious determinism of climate change are
prevalent in Kiribati today, as indeed they are in neighbouring island countries
(Kempf 2017). These underlying worldviews have been identified by external actors
working with local communities as one of the biggest challenges to overcome in
successfully implementing climate change adaptation projects in the region. This
situation contrasts with that of the Bedamuni who, while also not subscribing to
Fig. 5.3 Left: Erosion evident along the coastline of Abaiang Island; Right: abandoned bwai bwai
pits that became filled with saltwater