Climate Change
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/4812
2024-03-28T23:28:39ZInnovations for Climate Adaptation. Interim Report: Summary of Adaptation Initiatives by Local Government Research Partners.
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/16620
Innovations for Climate Adaptation. Interim Report: Summary of Adaptation Initiatives by Local Government Research Partners.
2024-02
Diprose, Gradon; Bond, Sophie; Stephenson, Janet; Kawharu, Merata
Climate change adaptation is an unprecedented challenge for decision-making at governance and management levels for local authorities and other groups. This interim report provides a summary of emerging themes one year into the ‘Innovations for Climate Adaptation’ research, focusing on Council staff experiences and perspectives. It draws on semi-structured interview data from Council staff in
Otago, Taranaki, and Bay of Plenty, and is designed to be read in conjunction with the report titled ‘Summary of adaptation initiatives by Māori research partners’. Our findings show that Council staff have been undertaking and implementing various actions to reorganise Council practices and processes for climate response. Our findings identify the following key shifts:
• Using carbon accounting to inform mitigation actions that connect across internal Council teams and processes, resulting in new business cases for climate response in annual and long-term plans
• Shifts towards increased cross-Council collaboration and coordination at regional levels as part of climate change risk assessments and adaptation planning
• Internal reorganising within Councils to embed climate change considerations across decisions and valuing a wider range of knowledge and skills to inform these processes
• Increasing recognition of the need to resource mana whenua and community-led projects and processes for climate response.
These shifts show evidence of both ‘just’ (considering equity) and ‘robust’ (incorporating a wider range of knowledge) considerations in climate response. While these shifts may seem small or tentative, they provide important evidence and examples to build on as New Zealand continues to collectively navigate climate response.
2024-03-04T20:04:55ZClimate-induced migration from the Pacific to New Zealand: a qualitative analysis
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/16508
Climate-induced migration from the Pacific to New Zealand: a qualitative analysis
2024
Ghosh, Rajan Chandra
The relationship between climate change and human migration is a long-standing phenomenon. Locations with favourable climatic conditions have always influenced the decisions of people to settle in a particular environment. Similarly, any adverse effects of a changing climate and related disasters, including sea-level rise, floods, and cyclones are key drivers for people to leave certain places, thus climate-induced migration or climate migration occurs. The negative consequences of climate change are displacing millions of people across the world, with the Asia-Pacific region being one of the most vulnerable. In the Pacific, internal displacement due to climate impacts is occurring, with some Pasifika people seeking to migrate to neighbouring countries such as Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), to secure their livelihoods. The NZ government is calling for a robust evidence base to understand the climate migration context in the Pacific, and to develop appropriate policies to assist and support climate-displaced people.
This research reviews the climate migration literature with four key areas of enquiry: a review of key global policies, initiatives, and mechanisms; a systematic review of global academic scholarship; a bibliometric review of regional Pacific research, and a review of national scale research and policies in NZ. The review reveals a significant gap in knowledge, particularly in qualitative academic research focussed on the livelihood opportunities and challenges for climate migrants in their international destination. Research findings contribute to two migration theories. First, the driving factors in cross-border migration are closely aligned with and support the Black et al. (2011) framework describing the drivers of migration. Secondly, it provides evidence that the ‘aspirations-capabilities framework of migration’ by de Hass (2021) can be applied in the international climate migration context.
This study had three research questions; RQ1) What pathways do Pasifika climate migrants utilise to move to NZ, and what challenges do they face during their migration journeys? RQ2) What are the livelihood opportunities and challenges of Pasifika climate migrants in NZ? and RQ3) What are the social impacts of climate migration for host communities in NZ? Employing a qualitative research approach and using the urban context of South Dunedin, NZ as a case study, the research involved in-depth interviews with two groups of participants. The first group included Pacific migrants who immigrated to NZ due to climate-related impacts, known as the climate migrants’ group. The second consisted of expert knowledge holders with leadership roles within the case study community. A total of 32 participants, 16 from each group were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling techniques.
The study explored the migration journeys of climate migrants, which were driven by the significant, compounding impacts of climatic hazards on the lives and livelihoods. Their journeys were many and varied, and were challenged by a lack of resources and knowledge of the migration process to come to NZ. On arriving in NZ, Pasifika climate migrants reported challenges related to their lack of English language proficiency and communication skills, inadequate or unrecognized educational qualifications, insufficient income, unfamiliarity with the institutional and organizational systems, lack of access to information, cultural misunderstanding, racism, bullying, and discrimination, and lack of support services.
Employing a future-focused interview approach, community leaders shared their views about the strong likelihood of increasing numbers of Pasifika climate migrants in future due to the growing impacts of climate change over time. They identified that changes in demography and pressure on infrastructure and resources had the potential to cause negative social outcomes, if poorly managed. Positive outcomes were also identified, through the contribution climate migrants will make to the social, cultural and economic capability and capacity of South Dunedin.
Migration driven by the direct impacts of climate change is already happening, and will continue into the future. Recognising that climate migrants are coming to New Zealand and these numbers are anticipated to grow in future, this study offers recommendations to mitigate the challenges migrants face during their journey to NZ, and in supporting them to establish their new lives and livelihoods. In doing so, the study contributes to the emerging academic field of climate migration in cross-border contexts by providing an empirical evidence base, exploring new methodological opportunities, and advancing existing migration theory to inform future research.
2024-01-10T19:52:10ZAdaptation by Mana Whenua: initiatives, challenges and working with councils. A report from the Innovations for Climate Adaptation research project, Deep South National Science Challenge.
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/16245
Adaptation by Mana Whenua: initiatives, challenges and working with councils. A report from the Innovations for Climate Adaptation research project, Deep South National Science Challenge.
2023-10
Stephenson, Janet; Kawharu, Merata; Bond, Sophie; Diprose, Gradon
This is an interim report summarising some of the experiences of mana whenua organisations as they work to respond to climate adaptation challenges, as shared with the Innovations for Climate Adaptation research team.
Climate adaptation requires new initiatives by both mana whenua and councils. Mana whenua seek rangatiratanga/self-determination in how they respond to climate change, and for this to be supported by councils. Māori communities are already being impacted by climate change in a variety of ways, and this will continue to worsen over time. Marae/hapū are where climate change impacts are directly felt, and where responses need to be founded. Iwi also have a key role in adaptation responses at the wider collective level. Sometimes responses are led or coordinated through iwi consultancies or post-settlement governance agencies. There needs to be clarity over these different roles. Mana whenua at all scales are already taking a wide range of actions to rebuild the resilience of their communities and environments, including engaging with their own people, developing climate response plans, establishing local food resources and restoring the health of forests and waterways. Mana whenua seek rangatiratanga so that they can undertake more extensive actions to respond to climate change (and other challenges). This includes recognition of their mana by councils and gaining decision-making powers as guaranteed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi. There are many different examples of relationships between councils and mana whenua; some are more empowering for mana whenua than others. Other challenges for mana whenua in responding to climate change include leadership, capacity, capability and resourcing.
2023-10-26T01:37:05ZUsing Mapping to Support Collaborative Climate Adaptation
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/16057
Using Mapping to Support Collaborative Climate Adaptation
2023
Abbott, Mick; Stephenson, Janet
This research summary explores how maps and mapping can help with collaborative planning for climate change adaptation. It has a particular focus on Participatory Community Mapping – a method that encourages communities to show how they value different aspects of their physical spaces.
It was commissioned to inform the South Dunedin Future programme which is a joint initiative between the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council to develop climate change adaptation options for South Dunedin.
2023-09-06T20:31:19ZJust Adaptation: what does justice mean, and how can it guide adaptation planning and decision-making?
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/15268
Just Adaptation: what does justice mean, and how can it guide adaptation planning and decision-making?
2023-05-17
Bray, Ariane; Stephenson, Janet; Bond, Sophie
When people think about justice, it is most often in the context of punishment for laws that have been transgressed. But justice is a much broader and more positive concept. It is fundamentally about fairness and equity.
Climate change adaptation has the potential to be unfair or inequitable, especially for groups who are more susceptible to harm. In this report we describe how to incorporate justice considerations into adaptation work, starting with theories of justice and ending with their practical implications. We draw from academic literature as well as from international and national reports. It is intended for anyone involved in adaptation processes, including government agencies, councils, researchers and community members.
2023-05-16T21:33:37ZIncorporating principles of justice into climate adaptation
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/15257
Incorporating principles of justice into climate adaptation
2023-05
Bray, Ariane
This report provides guidance to researchers, policy makers, and others navigating engagement with justice in adaptation. Synthesizing findings from a review of literature on justice in adaptation, or ‘just adaptation,’ this report identifies the meanings of justice in adaptation, outlines overarching ways of achieving justice in adaptation, and provides guidelines for how these ideas can be engaged with in the policy sphere in the Aotearoa New Zealand context.
2023-05-09T03:03:02ZCommunity engagement for climate change adaptation.
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/15157
Community engagement for climate change adaptation.
2023-02
Barth, Jule; Bond, Sophie; Stephenson, Janet
Some communities are particularly exposed to climate change impacts such as sea level rise or flooding. Adaptation — physical and societal adjustments — will be needed to respond to actual and anticipated impacts. Academic studies and New Zealand’s national guidance both suggest that outcomes are improved for affected communities, as well as for councils, when they work together closely to understand the implications, co-develop plans and undertake agreed actions for adaptation. This requires effective community engagement, whereby local
authorities develop active and effective relationships with their communities. This summary of best practice and relevant academic research was commissioned to help inform the South Dunedin Future programme, a joint initiative between Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council to develop climate change adaptation options for South Dunedin.
We outline principles and practices for community engagement that are particularly relevant to climate change adaptation. Part 1 summarises scholarly work on community engagement in climate change adaptation. Part 2 identifies key principles for engagement. Part 3 describes a
selection of engagement tools. At the end are references and links to further information.
2023-04-12T00:34:11ZClimate change adaptation decision-making for health and wellbeing in South Dunedin: Report on the use of causal mapping for stakeholders
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/13621
Climate change adaptation decision-making for health and wellbeing in South Dunedin: Report on the use of causal mapping for stakeholders
2022
Harrison, Sarah; Macmillan, Alex; Bond, Sophie; Stephenson, Janet
This doctoral research project was undertaken through the University of Otago’s Department
of Preventive and Social Medicine, in conjunction with the School of Geography and Centre
for Sustainability, Dunedin. We sought to understand the health and wellbeing effects of
climate change-related flooding and sea-level rise in the greater South Dunedin area, so as to
better inform health and equity-focussed adaptation decision-making and policy. Participants
were guided through a qualitative, participatory system dynamics (pSD) modelling process.
The first stage of the project involved a literature review, followed by 32 individual interviews
with community stakeholders, local government staff, and technical experts, in which they
were asked about their understandings of how flooding and sea-level rise affect health and
wellbeing. From this, we developed a set of six cause and effect maps (Causal Loop Diagrams,
CLDs) that captured the relevant causal relationships between flooding, sea-level rise, health
and wellbeing. These maps combined participants’ knowledge with existing evidence. They
were used as the basis for two group workshops, in which participants further applied ‘big
picture’ systems thinking to refine these cause and effect relationships and develop a shared
understanding of the issues and potential implications for adaptation.
Six CLDs are presented and discussed in this report. They cover the following themes:
• community-led development and participation in decision-making
• quality of housing
• the housing market
• the insurance market
• economic effects of flooding and sea-level rise
• access issues arising from flooding
Together these CLDs reveal many interconnected influences and feedback loops, or circular
causality, that show how flooding and sea-level rise risk worsening a wide range of existing
wellbeing issues in South Dunedin. These include high levels of poverty, poor quality housing,
housing unaffordability, and historical underinvestment in the area. Potential intervention
points were identified that can be used to inform wellbeing-focussed adaptation planning and
policy.
2022-09-09T00:49:30Z