4
non. Climate change adaptation refers to human
actions to build resilience and reduce vulnerability to the real implication of extreme climate
change, which is closely aligned with the concept
of disaster risk reduction (UNESCO 2015). It is
critical to note that effective adaption requires the
effective integration of scientific knowledge,
technologies, social condition, capacities and
capabilities. The fostering and promotion of sustainable development are achievable through programmes that eradicate poverty, reduce
inequalities and enhance climate change education through enhancing local adaptation capabilities. The benefits amassed by the creation and
promotion of climate change adaptation can also
be achieved through the development and implementation of climate change resilience development pathways, i.e. the application of frameworks
to attain goals of emission reduction, climate
change adaptation and resilience and the reduction of inequalities.
Justification for the Book
Young People and Climate Change
Although young people in SIDS are facing significant challenges due to the impact of climate
change, the issue has not received adequate attention from mainstream researchers, policymakers
and practitioners. This has left the youth and their
communities less protected or underprepared to
deal with the consequences and implications of
climate change. Also, the knowledge and skills
required by the youth for building resilience to
adapt to the impact of climate change have
remained less explored.
The youth of today will face the impact of climate change as it unfolds. Therefore, this book
would provide the opportunity to investigate
whether building the resilience of the youth
would require further development and investment in training and capacity building to prepare
them to meet these future changes. In the next
20–30 years, these young people will be economically active; therefore, it is imperative to investigate whether their future livelihoods and
well-being would be impacted by the incidence
of climate change and proposed adaptation strategies to reduce such impact. This book will also
examine whether the achievement of sustainability in the SIDS regions will depend on the level of
investment governments and international development agencies are injecting in youth development opportunities, be it in areas of education,
training and employment, and the level of preparedness of the youth to adapt to the impact of
climate change.
For adaptation to be effective in reducing vulnerability, a thorough understanding of the vulnerability of the youth and small island
communities to the impact of climate change
including the contextual factors that are causing
the vulnerability in the SIDS is essential (Adger
2003; Adger et al. 2005; Sem 2007), and the
appropriate actions to be taken must involve the
youth in addressing the vulnerability. Vulnerability
is defined as the degree to which geophysical, biological and socio-economic systems are susceptible to and unable to cope with adverse impacts of
climate change (IPCC 2007; Nurse et al. 2014),
i.e. it is the degree to which a system is susceptible to injury, damage or harm (Olmos 2001).
A crucial part of this book will focus on exploring the unique challenges faced by the youth
which are derived from their limited access to
resources, education (knowledge), training (skills),
employment (livelihoods) and broader economic
opportunities (Blum 2007) and devising adaptive
measures to build the resilience of the youth to
adapt to climate change. The IPCC (Abram et al.
2019) states that education can help to improve
understanding of issues relating to climate change
and increase the adaptive capacity (Pescaroli and
Magric 2015 in Abram et al. 2019). Structured
education, combined with other forms of institutional support, empowers communities to make
informed adaptation decisions and take actions.
Climate Change and Small Island
States/Communities
SIDS are a diverse group of 38 UN member states
and 20 non-UN members/associate members of
regional commissions facing distinctive social,
economic and environmental vulnerabilities.
1 The Global Overview of Climate Change
non. Climate change adaptation refers to human
actions to build resilience and reduce vulnerability to the real implication of extreme climate
change, which is closely aligned with the concept
of disaster risk reduction (UNESCO 2015). It is
critical to note that effective adaption requires the
effective integration of scientific knowledge,
technologies, social condition, capacities and
capabilities. The fostering and promotion of sustainable development are achievable through programmes that eradicate poverty, reduce
inequalities and enhance climate change education through enhancing local adaptation capabilities. The benefits amassed by the creation and
promotion of climate change adaptation can also
be achieved through the development and implementation of climate change resilience development pathways, i.e. the application of frameworks
to attain goals of emission reduction, climate
change adaptation and resilience and the reduction of inequalities.
Justification for the Book
Young People and Climate Change
Although young people in SIDS are facing significant challenges due to the impact of climate
change, the issue has not received adequate attention from mainstream researchers, policymakers
and practitioners. This has left the youth and their
communities less protected or underprepared to
deal with the consequences and implications of
climate change. Also, the knowledge and skills
required by the youth for building resilience to
adapt to the impact of climate change have
remained less explored.
The youth of today will face the impact of climate change as it unfolds. Therefore, this book
would provide the opportunity to investigate
whether building the resilience of the youth
would require further development and investment in training and capacity building to prepare
them to meet these future changes. In the next
20–30 years, these young people will be economically active; therefore, it is imperative to investigate whether their future livelihoods and
well-being would be impacted by the incidence
of climate change and proposed adaptation strategies to reduce such impact. This book will also
examine whether the achievement of sustainability in the SIDS regions will depend on the level of
investment governments and international development agencies are injecting in youth development opportunities, be it in areas of education,
training and employment, and the level of preparedness of the youth to adapt to the impact of
climate change.
For adaptation to be effective in reducing vulnerability, a thorough understanding of the vulnerability of the youth and small island
communities to the impact of climate change
including the contextual factors that are causing
the vulnerability in the SIDS is essential (Adger
2003; Adger et al. 2005; Sem 2007), and the
appropriate actions to be taken must involve the
youth in addressing the vulnerability. Vulnerability
is defined as the degree to which geophysical, biological and socio-economic systems are susceptible to and unable to cope with adverse impacts of
climate change (IPCC 2007; Nurse et al. 2014),
i.e. it is the degree to which a system is susceptible to injury, damage or harm (Olmos 2001).
A crucial part of this book will focus on exploring the unique challenges faced by the youth
which are derived from their limited access to
resources, education (knowledge), training (skills),
employment (livelihoods) and broader economic
opportunities (Blum 2007) and devising adaptive
measures to build the resilience of the youth to
adapt to climate change. The IPCC (Abram et al.
2019) states that education can help to improve
understanding of issues relating to climate change
and increase the adaptive capacity (Pescaroli and
Magric 2015 in Abram et al. 2019). Structured
education, combined with other forms of institutional support, empowers communities to make
informed adaptation decisions and take actions.
Climate Change and Small Island
States/Communities
SIDS are a diverse group of 38 UN member states
and 20 non-UN members/associate members of
regional commissions facing distinctive social,
economic and environmental vulnerabilities.
1 The Global Overview of Climate Change