CEU eTD Collection (2018); Mace-Snaith, Robin Michael Joseph: Adaptation, livelihoods and ecosystems in Fiji: the use of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change

CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2018
Author Mace-Snaith, Robin Michael Joseph
Title Adaptation, livelihoods and ecosystems in Fiji: the use of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change
Summary It is accepted that climate change will impact both humans and both must adapt to these impacts under what is termed climate change adaptation. The international climate change discourse has progressed since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the publication of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), with a growing recognition of the vital role ecosystems play in supporting societal climate change adaptation. This recognition of ecosystem services as vital to achieve sustainable development goals and climate change adaptation ambitions has led to a call for a multifaceted approach. One such approach is ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) which has been defined by the CBD (2009) as "the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change as part of an overall adaptation strategy”. EbA is a relatively new concept that has gained substantial support in recent years, due to claims that it offers ‘win-win’ outcomes and ‘low regrets’ solutions. This research aimed to understand whether the extra benefits (win-win outcomes) believed to be associated with EbA compared to sectoral approaches are realised. The study used EbA in the context of a specific place-based project in the small island developing state of Fiji. The major finding was that the concept of EbA may not achieve all the outcomes it claims to produce in practice. However, to properly evaluate EbA’s potential it will require a considerable amount of time to pass, due to the timescales at which climate change adaptation must take place.
Supervisor Pinter Laszlo
Department Environment Sciences and Policy MSc
Full texthttps://www.etd.ceu.edu/2018/mace-snaith_robin.pdf

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