107
the resilience of the youth to adapt to climate
change in another SIDS. Despite the uncertainty
in achieving a similar outcome when using the
framework across different regional and national
contexts of SIDS, I would encourage other
researchers to test the conceptual framework in
other areas of study to explore its applicability to
other settings and environments; such variations
in the context of SIDS would provide opportunities for additional research to enhance and add
value to the framework.
Notwithstanding the broad body of knowledge on the impact and adaptation of climate
change in SIDS (IPCC 2014a, b; Nurse et al.
2014; Scobie 2016; Hernandez-Delgado 2016),
the framework may not contain the full body of
knowledge that would make it robust enough to
respond to and possess the capacity and capability to assist all stakeholders who may wish to use
it. Despite these limitations, the application of
the framework could assist policymakers, senior
officials, youth development practitioners,
researchers and CCA practitioners in identifying
opportunities to enhance the overall functioning
and to build the resilience of the youth to adapt to
climate change in SIDS in the future.
Further Research
It was apparent that there was an absence of a
national policy on climate change in SVG and the
lack of CCE integrated into the curriculum and
across sectoral policies. There is also the absence
of CCA in most SIDS’ national development
plan reports. The development and implementation of a national climate change policy would
need to be informed by ongoing research to
ensure its successful implementation and adaptation across the relevant sectors of SIDS.
If one is considering developing a policy on
strategies to overcome barriers to adaptation in
SIDS, they will need to research climate change
impacts on SIDS and the effectiveness of the
CCA strategies implemented in the past (Nurse
et al. 2014). There will be a need for detailed
research to gather the necessary data to inform
the CCA policy to be developed. Currently, there
is no published research in this area.
Further research is also needed on the youth in
exceptional circumstances and across different
sectors in SIDS and beyond. There are defined
gaps in the body of knowledge on the impact of
climate change on the youth and children in the
Caribbean SIDS as highlighted by Ogarro and
Speek-Warney (2009). The authors complained
of the “lack of relevant and scientifically-linked
information from SIDS and regional data
sources” (Ogarro and Speek-Warney 2009, p. 1).
Therefore, researchers will need to engage in further work in areas such as climate change
impacts, vulnerability and adaptation and the
impact of climate change on specific sectors of
the population such as the youth, children, farmers and women in small island states.
Research on the impact of climate change on
small island nations is understudied, fragmented
and in need of robust evidence (Sem 2007;
Ogarro and Speek-Warney 2009). Sem (2007)
argues that there is a lack of baseline data for
understanding the complicated relationship
between and within natural and human systems.
He contends that most SIDs have been unable to
undertake in-depth nationwide climate change
and vulnerability assessments in an integrated
manner. National assessments provide a sound
basis for island states to begin work on designing
and planning adaptation policies, strategies and
programmes. The absence of these assessment
measures in SIDS would result in the delay or
uncertainty in decisions on adaptation (Sem
2007). Therefore, a recommendation is for the
implementation of climate change and vulnerability assessments in SIDS to support work on the
design and development of CCA policies, strategies and programmes.
On the issue of the impact of SLR on small
island communities, there remains limited evidence
as to which region (Caribbean, Pacific and Indian
Oceans or West African Islands) will experience the
worst impact of SLR (Simpson et al. 2010).
Consequently, there is a need for further research in
this area to develop confidence among residents of
SIDS on the type of adaptation strategies that should
Further Research
the resilience of the youth to adapt to climate
change in another SIDS. Despite the uncertainty
in achieving a similar outcome when using the
framework across different regional and national
contexts of SIDS, I would encourage other
researchers to test the conceptual framework in
other areas of study to explore its applicability to
other settings and environments; such variations
in the context of SIDS would provide opportunities for additional research to enhance and add
value to the framework.
Notwithstanding the broad body of knowledge on the impact and adaptation of climate
change in SIDS (IPCC 2014a, b; Nurse et al.
2014; Scobie 2016; Hernandez-Delgado 2016),
the framework may not contain the full body of
knowledge that would make it robust enough to
respond to and possess the capacity and capability to assist all stakeholders who may wish to use
it. Despite these limitations, the application of
the framework could assist policymakers, senior
officials, youth development practitioners,
researchers and CCA practitioners in identifying
opportunities to enhance the overall functioning
and to build the resilience of the youth to adapt to
climate change in SIDS in the future.
Further Research
It was apparent that there was an absence of a
national policy on climate change in SVG and the
lack of CCE integrated into the curriculum and
across sectoral policies. There is also the absence
of CCA in most SIDS’ national development
plan reports. The development and implementation of a national climate change policy would
need to be informed by ongoing research to
ensure its successful implementation and adaptation across the relevant sectors of SIDS.
If one is considering developing a policy on
strategies to overcome barriers to adaptation in
SIDS, they will need to research climate change
impacts on SIDS and the effectiveness of the
CCA strategies implemented in the past (Nurse
et al. 2014). There will be a need for detailed
research to gather the necessary data to inform
the CCA policy to be developed. Currently, there
is no published research in this area.
Further research is also needed on the youth in
exceptional circumstances and across different
sectors in SIDS and beyond. There are defined
gaps in the body of knowledge on the impact of
climate change on the youth and children in the
Caribbean SIDS as highlighted by Ogarro and
Speek-Warney (2009). The authors complained
of the “lack of relevant and scientifically-linked
information from SIDS and regional data
sources” (Ogarro and Speek-Warney 2009, p. 1).
Therefore, researchers will need to engage in further work in areas such as climate change
impacts, vulnerability and adaptation and the
impact of climate change on specific sectors of
the population such as the youth, children, farmers and women in small island states.
Research on the impact of climate change on
small island nations is understudied, fragmented
and in need of robust evidence (Sem 2007;
Ogarro and Speek-Warney 2009). Sem (2007)
argues that there is a lack of baseline data for
understanding the complicated relationship
between and within natural and human systems.
He contends that most SIDs have been unable to
undertake in-depth nationwide climate change
and vulnerability assessments in an integrated
manner. National assessments provide a sound
basis for island states to begin work on designing
and planning adaptation policies, strategies and
programmes. The absence of these assessment
measures in SIDS would result in the delay or
uncertainty in decisions on adaptation (Sem
2007). Therefore, a recommendation is for the
implementation of climate change and vulnerability assessments in SIDS to support work on the
design and development of CCA policies, strategies and programmes.
On the issue of the impact of SLR on small
island communities, there remains limited evidence
as to which region (Caribbean, Pacific and Indian
Oceans or West African Islands) will experience the
worst impact of SLR (Simpson et al. 2010).
Consequently, there is a need for further research in
this area to develop confidence among residents of
SIDS on the type of adaptation strategies that should
Further Research