Learn from the Pacific: Frontline of the climate crisis

Standing alongside our colleagues, families, and friends in the Pacific we use our platforms to amplify their calls for greater climate ambition and environmental security. Climate diplomacy, disaster response, and the importance of sustainability are critical issues for Pacific communities, and we work to bring their voices to the fore.

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Research highlights

Climate diplomacy

This stream within the Climate Justice program of Griffith University’s Climate Action Beacon aims to equip policymakers and diplomats with practical insights that will enable them to understand and engage effectively with climate diplomacy practices and protocols in Australia and the Pacific. This will allow those working in this space to collaborate with a diverse range of state and non-state actors, while aligning national interests to a more ‘just’ set of climate outcomes that advance the principles of climate action.

Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping

ESRAM is a component of the Pacific Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Climate Change Program; a five-year project funded by the German Government, implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme to explore and promote ecosystem-based options for adapting to climate change. The project aims to help integrate Ecosystem-based Adaptation into development, climate change adaptation and natural resource management policy and planning processes in three Pacific island countries providing replicable models for other countries in the region.

Road to COP26 timeline

How did we get here?

When a scientific consensus on the matter emerged in the late 1980s, Pacific island countries came to understand climate change as a key threat to their survival. Since then, island governments have pursued collective diplomacy to try to shape global cooperation to tackle the issue.

The “Road to COP26 Timeline” charts how Pacific island countries have engaged with global climate diplomacy and politics since 2015. It also documents significant announcements, declarations and statements that have articulated Pacific positions. It focuses on how Pacific countries have exercised collective diplomacy and action, including at the sub-regional level.

Find out more

Past events

Climate politics in Oceania

Road to COP26

Feeling the Heat: Australia under climate pressure

Pacific regionalism at a crossroads

Climate conversations and disconnected discourses

Publications

TitleAuthor/s Type of publicationDate
Leaving nothing to chance: Sustaining Pacific development beyond 2024Anna Naupa and Tess Newton CainPolicy paper2024
Climate Politics in OceaniaSusan Harris Rimmer, Caitlin Byrne and Wesley Morgan (eds)Book2024
How Pacifika arts reveal interconnected losses for people and place in a changing climateRachel Clissold,Ellie Furlong,Karen McNamara, Ross Westoby and Anita Latai-NiusuluJournal article2023
Understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change on people’s human rights: Insights from VanuatuKaren McNamara, Rachel Clissold, Ross Westoby, George Koran, Stephanie Stephens, Willy Missack, Christopher Bartlett and Mike WaiwaiJournal article2023
Putting human rights in the centreMeg ParsonsJournal article2023
Using a human rights lens to understand and address loss and damageKaren McNamara, Rachel Clissold, Ross Westoby, Stephanie Stephens, George Koran, Willy Missack and Christopher BartlettJournal article2023
Climate justice through climate finance? Lessons from OceaniaEdward A Morgan and Kirstie PetrouJournal article2023
How Pacifika arts reveal interconnected losses for people and place in a changing climateRachel Clissold, Ellie Furlong, Karen McNamara, Ross Westoby and Anita Latai-NiusuluJournal article2023
Climate-induced non-economic loss and damage: Understanding policy responses, challenges, and future directions in Pacific small island developing statesAlvin Chandra, Karen McNamara, Rachel Clissold, Tammy Tabe and Ross WestobyJournal article2023
Experiencing and responding to extreme weather: Lessons from the Cook IslandsRachel Clissold, Karen McNamara, Ross Westoby and Vaine WichmanJournal article2023
Emotions of the Anthropocene across OceaniaRachel Clissold, Karen McNamara and Ross WestobyJournal article2022
COP27: Pacific people, perspectives and pronouncementsRachel SmithWorking paper2022
Climate conversations and disconnected discourses: An examination of how Chinese engagement on climate change aligns with Pacific prioritiesTess Newton Cain, Romitesh Kant, Melodie Ruwet and Caitlin ByrneWorking paper2022
Lessons for adaptation pathways in the Pacific IslandsKaren McNamara, Ross Westoby and Rachel Clissold Journal article2022
WASH in the market house: A situation analysis of water, sanitation and hygiene services in market places in VanuatuMark Love, Krishna Kotra and Regina SouterReport2021
Tabu, MPA and community: nomenclature and the political ecology of marine conservation in VanuatuMark LoveJournal article2021
Climate change and maritime boundaries: Pacific responses and implications for AustraliaRebecca Strating and Joanne WallisWorking paper2021
Evaluating coral reef ecosystem services outcomes from climate change adaptation strategies using integrative system dynamicsMehdi Hafezi, Rodney A Stewart, Oz Sahin, Alyssa L Giffin, Brendan Mackey Journal article 2021
Cascading loss and loss risk multipliers amid a changing climate in the Pacific IslandsRoss Westoby, Rachel Clissold, Karen E McNamara, Anita Latai-Niusulu and Alvin ChandraJournal article2021
Locally led adaptation drivers for appropriate grassroots initiativesRoss Westoby , Rachel Clissold , Karen McNamara , Istiakh Ahmed , Bernadette Resurrección , Nishara Fernando and Saleemul HuqJournal article2021
Assessing how ecosystem-based adaptations to climate change influence community wellbeing: A Vanuatu case studyOz Sahin, Wade Hadwen, Andrew Buckwell, Christopher Fleming, Dan Ware, James Smart, Allan Dan and Brendan Mackey Journal article2021
Identifying and mitigating risks to completion of small grant climate change adaptation projects: Evidence from the PacificSyezlin Hasan, Christopher Fleming, James Smart, Andrew Buckwell, Maja Vinde Folkersen and  Brendan Mackey Journal article2021
Alternative Entry Points for Adaptation: Examples from VanuatuRoss Westoby, Rachel Clissold and Karen McNamaraJournal article2020
An assessment of community-based adaptation initiatives in the Pacific Islands Karen E McNamara, Rachel Clissold, Ross Westoby, Annah E Piggott-McKellar, Roselyn Kumar, Tahlia Clarke, Frances Namoumou, Francis Areki, Eugene Joseph, Olivia Warrick and Patrick D Nunn  Journal article2020
Asia Pacific Viewpoint - Marketplaces as sites for development-adaptation-disaster trifectaKaren E McNamara, Rachel Clissold and Ross WestobyJournal article2020
Exploring climate-driven non-economic loss and damage in the Pacific IslandsKaren E McNamara, Ross Westoby and Alvin ChandraJournal article2020
Exploring the multiple benefits of ecosystem-based adaptation in tourism for climate risks and destination well-being Johanna Loehr, Susanne Becken, Johanna Nalau and Brendan MackeyJournal article2020
Women as recovery enablers in the face of disasters in VanuatuRachel Clissold, Ross Westoby and Karen E McNamaraJournal article2020
Revealing the dominant discourses of stakeholders towards natural resource management in Port Resolution, Vanuatu, using Q-methodAndrew Buckwell, Christopher Fleming, Maggie Muurmans, James Smart, Dan Ware and Brendan MackeyJournal article2020
An assessment of community-based adaptation initiatives in the Pacific Islands Ross Westoby, Annah E Piggott-McKellar, Roselyn Kumar, Tahlia Clarke, Frances Namoumou, Francis Areki, Eugene Joseph, Olivia Warrick and Patrick D Nunn Journal article2020
Ecoadapt Pacific 2018-2019 Annual Report - The benefits of ecosystem-based approaches for climate change in least developed countries Climate Change Response Program Report 2020
Challenges and Sensitivities in Assessing Total Ecosystem Service Values: Lessons From Vanuatu for the PacificAndrew J Buckwell, Christopher Fleming, James CR Stewart, Dan Ware and Brendan MackeyJournal article2020
Social benefit cost analysis of ecosystem-based climate change adaptations: A community-level case study in Tanna Island, VanuatuAndrew Buckwell, Dan Ware, Christopher Fleming, James Smart, Brendan Mackey, Johanna Nalau and Allan DanJournal article2019
Applying information for climate change adaptation planning and decision making in the Pacific: situation analysis Kate Morioka, Madeleine McGann, Sam Mackay and Brendan Mackey Report 2019
Ecoadapt Pacific 2017-2018 Annual Report - The benefits of ecosystem-based approaches for climate change in least Developed countriesClimate Change Response ProgramReport2019
Ecoadapt Pacific 2016-2017 Annual Report - The benefits of ecosystem-based approaches for climate change in least developed countriesClimate Change Response ProgramReport2018
Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC) (Newsletter, 6th edition)Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC) projectNewsletter2018
Vanuatu - Ecosystem and socio-economic resilience analysis and mapping (ESRAM)Brendan Mackey et alReport2017
Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC) (Newsletter, 4th edition)Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC) projectNewsletter2017
Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC) (Newsletter, 3rd edition)Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC) projectNewsletter2017
Conserving the marine biodiversity of Marovo Lagoon: Development of environmental management initiatives that will conserve the marine biodiversity and productivity of Marovo Lagoon, Solomon IslandsMark LoveReport2013

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