11 Paddling on Both Sides of the Canoe …
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(Narayan et al. 2000). These findings may reflect alienation and fear associated
with removal from the processes associated with implementing meaningful governmental and policy change, as well feelings of powerlessness to challenge authoritative
entities and structures.
One means of tackling issues of distrust and equity in relation to climate change
risks can be through wide ranging engagement focusing on community education
programmes and FBO partnership building (Mackay et al. 2018; McIver et al. 2017).
Through dialogue with a wider range of participants one can begin to understand the
dynamic social context in which societal risks develops. Events such as workshops
that provide a mix of informative formal presentations and participant discussion, as
well as coffee breaks and meals, are especially meaningful tools in Oceania, as food
sharing and hospitality are culturally significant.
Through documenting and understanding the specific risk factors impacting
communities on the frontlines of climate change, communities are better placed
to engage in critical decisions and adapt to localized climate impacts. Through an
integrated and collaborative approach that draws upon the connections already in
place by partners, such as FBOs, trustworthy climate information can be delivered
to communities that strengthen and increase resilience in Oceania.
Community Context & Tools for Engagement
It is critical for policymakers, NGOs and FBOs to select tools which will prove most
effective for the specific communities in which they are engaging. Local context will
dictate which risk-management tools will provide the most effective support in a
given locale. For instance, both formal and informal public education programmes
can prove effective in creating lasting partnerships that merge diverse belief systems
with support for local resilience actions, such as in the informal approach of my Fijian
colleague encouraging the community on Qoma to plant mangroves for increased
shoreline stability. Public education programmes provide important opportunities to
improve communities’ general understanding of climatic processes and specific risk
adaptation strategies in ways that are meaningful to them. An excellent example of
this can be found in the community focused sustainable development programme on
Gau Island, Fiji.
The “Lomani Gau (‘guardians of the island’) project, as it is called, does not
attempt a clumsy separation of ‘climate change’ issues from ‘environmental’ issues
more generally or from ‘economic’ issues; all are integrated” (Veitayaki and Holland
2018: 1). Recall that this approach is reminiscent of Bernard Narokobi’s thoughts
on the oneness of life from a Melanesian spiritual perspective (Narokobi 1977: 8).
Through the work of the Lomani Gau project Pacific Islanders demonstrate that
communities do “respond proactively and positively to climate change forecasts,
but only if communicated properly: the forecasts must be made to speak to existing
local concerns and to acknowledge the many other drivers of change. According to
219
(Narayan et al. 2000). These findings may reflect alienation and fear associated
with removal from the processes associated with implementing meaningful governmental and policy change, as well feelings of powerlessness to challenge authoritative
entities and structures.
One means of tackling issues of distrust and equity in relation to climate change
risks can be through wide ranging engagement focusing on community education
programmes and FBO partnership building (Mackay et al. 2018; McIver et al. 2017).
Through dialogue with a wider range of participants one can begin to understand the
dynamic social context in which societal risks develops. Events such as workshops
that provide a mix of informative formal presentations and participant discussion, as
well as coffee breaks and meals, are especially meaningful tools in Oceania, as food
sharing and hospitality are culturally significant.
Through documenting and understanding the specific risk factors impacting
communities on the frontlines of climate change, communities are better placed
to engage in critical decisions and adapt to localized climate impacts. Through an
integrated and collaborative approach that draws upon the connections already in
place by partners, such as FBOs, trustworthy climate information can be delivered
to communities that strengthen and increase resilience in Oceania.
Community Context & Tools for Engagement
It is critical for policymakers, NGOs and FBOs to select tools which will prove most
effective for the specific communities in which they are engaging. Local context will
dictate which risk-management tools will provide the most effective support in a
given locale. For instance, both formal and informal public education programmes
can prove effective in creating lasting partnerships that merge diverse belief systems
with support for local resilience actions, such as in the informal approach of my Fijian
colleague encouraging the community on Qoma to plant mangroves for increased
shoreline stability. Public education programmes provide important opportunities to
improve communities’ general understanding of climatic processes and specific risk
adaptation strategies in ways that are meaningful to them. An excellent example of
this can be found in the community focused sustainable development programme on
Gau Island, Fiji.
The “Lomani Gau (‘guardians of the island’) project, as it is called, does not
attempt a clumsy separation of ‘climate change’ issues from ‘environmental’ issues
more generally or from ‘economic’ issues; all are integrated” (Veitayaki and Holland
2018: 1). Recall that this approach is reminiscent of Bernard Narokobi’s thoughts
on the oneness of life from a Melanesian spiritual perspective (Narokobi 1977: 8).
Through the work of the Lomani Gau project Pacific Islanders demonstrate that
communities do “respond proactively and positively to climate change forecasts,
but only if communicated properly: the forecasts must be made to speak to existing
local concerns and to acknowledge the many other drivers of change. According to