Page - 369 - in Loss and Damage from Climate Change - Concepts, Methods and Policy Options

15 UnderstandingLossandDamage inPacificSmall Island… 369 Table15.1 Loss&Damageconcepts applied to theSWPacific Concept Definition Pacific—riskcontext Pacific—optionspace Adaptation constraint Impediment toprogress adaptation,whichoftencan beovercomebychanges in operational andpolicy instruments Lackofalignmentbetween differentgovernance structures, e.g. between customarygovernanceand Westminster systems; lack ofcapacity inadaptation expertise; lackof funding to implement adaptation actionse.g. community projects,waterprojects Changes inoperational and policy instrumentse.g. closer alignmentof customarygovernanceand Westminster systems; increasedadaptation capacity;monitoringand evaluationofadaptation activities and ‘buildingback better’ Adaptation limit Inability to fulfilobjectives andgoals (in linewith intolerable risk space) Permanent lossofplaces (atolls, coastal areas), livelihoods (subsistence farmingwithparticular cropse.g. taro,yam); lossof cultural items for ceremonies (kava,palm leaves) Relocationand resettlement likelyaway fromthemost hazardouscoastal areas; changes in livelihood types Avoidable risk Risks,whichcanbe avoided/reduceddue to the implementationof adaptationstrategies Higher temperatures; changes in seasonsand impactsoncropqualityand timing→ impactson culturalpracticesand validityof traditional knowledge Climate resilient crops; increased investments in coastalprotectionstrategies (seawalls, ecosystem-based adaptation); local/in-country relocation; integrationof traditionalknowledgeand Western science Avoided risk Risks,whichhavebeen avoided/reducedby the implementationof adaptationstrategies Flood risks Warningsystems,building styles, village location Unavoidable risk Risks,whichcannotbedealt withdue to locked in climatechange impacts Sea level rise; contamination ofwater resources. Increased riskof severe cyclonesanddroughts Tolerable risk Riskswhichcommunities candealwithby implementingstrategies Lowlevel sea level riseand inundation; infrequent stormsandstormsurge Buildingseawalls, strengtheningbuilding codes, investing inearly warningsystems; changing traditionalbuilding techniques Intolerable risk Riskswhich (involuntarily) force individuals and communities to leave their placesof livingor transform their livelihoods Increasedhazards, leaving atollsdue toconstant and/or permanent inundation; loss ofdrinkingwater resources; lossof livelihoods The focus for low-lying areas ison involuntary relocation&resettlement. In somecases, engineering& structural approachesmight bepossible; remittances couldbeused inplaceof local livelihoods SourcesBasedonDowetal. (2013),Kleinetal. (2014),MechlerandSchinko(2016).Fordiscussionofmore detaileddefinitions see the introductorychapterbyMechler et al. (2018)