17 Adapting to Climate Change by Building Back Better in Disaster Recovery …
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Framework (UNISDR 2015), and it can also be utilised as an effective tool for climate
change adaptation planning and implementation.
17.6 Methodology for Case Study: Climate Adaptation
and Business Resilience in Rarotonga
This research was undertaken as a qualitative case study looking at the climate
change resilience of coastal businesses located on the island of Rarotonga, in the
Pacific nation of Cook Islands. The Cook Islands consists of 15 islands spread over a
large area in the South Pacific. Rarotonga is Cook Islands’ capital and biggest island,
32 km in circumference, and is the economic hub of the country. Rarotonga is most
popular for its scenic beaches, making tourism a large component of the island and
country’s economy. Along with the rest of the Pacific, the Cook Islands and the island
of Rarotonga are impacted by annual tropical cyclone seasons. The country has been
witnessing a clear increase in the magnitude of cyclones with the highest magnitude
category 5 cyclones becoming more frequent in the past few years (De Scally 2008;
Kumar 2018). Being an island nation, the country is also experiencing the effects
of climate change, with rises in sea-level recorded at 4 mm per year since 1993,
increasing temperature and rainfall, and increased ocean acidification (Australian
Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO 2011; Australian Aid et al. 2011). One of the
key industries impacted by these changes is the coastal tourism business industry in
Rarotonga that has to face the physical challenges of coastal hazards such as cyclones
and sea-level rise as a result of climate change. Therefore, the aim of this research
was to explore how BBB can be used to examine the climate adaptation capabilities
of coastal businesses.
A qualitative case study approach was chosen for this research to enable indepth exploration and comprehension of the situation (Yin 2009). Data for this
study was collected through semi-structured open-ended interviews conducted with
popular and prominent coastal businesses in Rarotonga. The coastal businesses
were largely tourism-based and included large, medium and small hotels, small and
medium restaurants, and other businesses (see Table 17.1 for business and interviewee
profiles). Most of the businesses had previously been affected by cyclone events and
coastal hazards. Participants from Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI),
who is the designated government body responsible for disaster risk management in
the Cook Islands, and the Tourism Corporation and Tourism Industry Council were
also interviewed to understand the steps taken to ensure the resilience of a large
number of tourism businesses vulnerable to climate change impacts.
The interviews were structured to understand the challenges faced by the businesses and identify their business practices under each of the BBB Framework
components. This data was transcribed and analysed using an inductive approach
based on grounded theory and the constant comparative method (Maxwell 2005;
319
Framework (UNISDR 2015), and it can also be utilised as an effective tool for climate
change adaptation planning and implementation.
17.6 Methodology for Case Study: Climate Adaptation
and Business Resilience in Rarotonga
This research was undertaken as a qualitative case study looking at the climate
change resilience of coastal businesses located on the island of Rarotonga, in the
Pacific nation of Cook Islands. The Cook Islands consists of 15 islands spread over a
large area in the South Pacific. Rarotonga is Cook Islands’ capital and biggest island,
32 km in circumference, and is the economic hub of the country. Rarotonga is most
popular for its scenic beaches, making tourism a large component of the island and
country’s economy. Along with the rest of the Pacific, the Cook Islands and the island
of Rarotonga are impacted by annual tropical cyclone seasons. The country has been
witnessing a clear increase in the magnitude of cyclones with the highest magnitude
category 5 cyclones becoming more frequent in the past few years (De Scally 2008;
Kumar 2018). Being an island nation, the country is also experiencing the effects
of climate change, with rises in sea-level recorded at 4 mm per year since 1993,
increasing temperature and rainfall, and increased ocean acidification (Australian
Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO 2011; Australian Aid et al. 2011). One of the
key industries impacted by these changes is the coastal tourism business industry in
Rarotonga that has to face the physical challenges of coastal hazards such as cyclones
and sea-level rise as a result of climate change. Therefore, the aim of this research
was to explore how BBB can be used to examine the climate adaptation capabilities
of coastal businesses.
A qualitative case study approach was chosen for this research to enable indepth exploration and comprehension of the situation (Yin 2009). Data for this
study was collected through semi-structured open-ended interviews conducted with
popular and prominent coastal businesses in Rarotonga. The coastal businesses
were largely tourism-based and included large, medium and small hotels, small and
medium restaurants, and other businesses (see Table 17.1 for business and interviewee
profiles). Most of the businesses had previously been affected by cyclone events and
coastal hazards. Participants from Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI),
who is the designated government body responsible for disaster risk management in
the Cook Islands, and the Tourism Corporation and Tourism Industry Council were
also interviewed to understand the steps taken to ensure the resilience of a large
number of tourism businesses vulnerable to climate change impacts.
The interviews were structured to understand the challenges faced by the businesses and identify their business practices under each of the BBB Framework
components. This data was transcribed and analysed using an inductive approach
based on grounded theory and the constant comparative method (Maxwell 2005;