F1ES 4200 - Adaptation to Climate Change in Small Island Developing States

This course offers a critical introduction to the multiple challenges of SIDS in a changing climate, and to islanders' resilience and opportunities for adaptation in island contexts. The course first examines to what extent SIDS are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and identifies options for but also barriers to effective adaptation and more resilience. In a second part, the course focuses on three specific dimensions of adaptation : climate finance ; migration ; and the social construction of vulnerability and adaptation.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to
1. understand the complexities of vulnerability to climate change impacts, and apply this to the unique situation of SIDS
2. identify and critically evaluate different adaptation options, including migration;
3. critique and position themselves vis-à-vis discourses of vulnerability, “sinking islands” and (mal-) adaptation.
Professional Skills
1. Understanding of current adaptation discourses
2. Understanding of current climate finance architecture and adaptation project proposals
3. Evaluation of adaptation options from different perspectives
Carola KLOECK,Ellen LEDGER
Séminaire
English
-In session: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
-Reading and Preparation for course: ca. 4 hours a week / 50 hours a semester
-Research and Preparation for Group Work: 20 hours a semester
-Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 50 hours a semester

Spring 2024-2025
First, students will have to prepare a short presentation of about 15 minutes for one session. The presentation briefly introduces the session's topic, applies key concepts to a small island, and leads into the discussion. Presentations are in small groups of 2¬–3 students and represent 40% of the final grade.
Second, students will have to write a short mid-term paper around the GCF simulation exercise. The mid-term paper consists of two parts: a position paper, in which students outline their assessment and ranking of the proposed adaptation projects; and a reflection paper, in which students reflect the exercise and develop their personal position on the adaptation projects and GCF funding. The mid-term paper must not exceed 4 pages, and represents 40% of the final grade.
Third, students will have to write a final reflection on their in-class participation and key learnings. The final reflection paper is due at the end of the semester and represents 20% of the final grade.

As in previous years, I will give feedback within one week of submission of each element. The presentations receive oral feedback at the end of the class. Students receive detailed written comments on their mid-term paper within ca. one week of submission. Finally, for the final reflection, students also receive written feedback within ca. one week of submission.
Required and recommended readings available on course outline
Barnett, J., S. Lambert and I. Fry. (2008). The Hazards of Indicators: Insights from the Environmental Vulnerability Index. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 98(1), 102–119.
Klein, R. J. T. (2009). Identifying Countries that are Particularly Vulnerable to the Adverse Effects of Climate Change: An Academic or a Political Challenge? Carbon & Climate Law Review 3(3):284-291
McLean, R. and P. Kench (2015) Destruction or Persistence of Coral Atoll Islands in the Face of 20th and 21st Century Sea-level Rise? WIREs Climate Change 6(5): 445–463.
Robinson, S.-a. and M. Dornan (2017). International Financing for Climate Change Adaptation in Small Island Developing States. Regional Environmental Change 17(4), 1103–1115
Thomas, A., A. Baptiste, R. Martyr-Koller, P. Pringle and and K. Rhiney. (2020). Climate Change and Small Island Developing States. Annual Review in Environment and Resources 45:6.1–6.27.
Barnett, J. (2017). The Dilemmas of Normalising Losses from Climate Change: Towards Hope for Pacific Atoll Countries. Asia Pacific Viewpoing 58(1), 3–13.
Barnett, J. (2010). Maladaptation. Global Environmental Change 20, 211–213.
Adger, N. et al. (2003). Adaptation to Climate Change in the Developing World. Progress in Development Studies 3(3),179–195
Black, R., S. R. G. Bennett, S. M. Thomas and J. R. Beddington (2011). Migration as Adaptation. Nature 478, 447–449.
Gemenne, F. (2015). One Good Reason to Speak of Climate Refugees'. Forced Migration Review 49, 70–71
Lazrus, H. (2012). Sea Change: Island Communities and Climate Change. Annual Review of Anthropology 41, 285–301
Betzold, C. (2015). Adapting to Climate Change in Small Island Developing States. Climatic Change 133(3), 481–489
Julca, A. and O. Paddison (2010). Vulnerabilities and Migration in Small Island Developing States in the Context of Climate Change. Natural Hazards 55, 717–728.
Moesinger, A. (2019): Influence of socio-economic stressors on interpretations of climate change on Takuu Atoll, Papua New Guinea. Journal de la Société des Océanistes 149(2), 223–234
Webber, S. (2013). Performative Vulnerability: Climate Change Adaptation Policies and Financing in Kiribati. Environment and Planning A 45, 2717–2733.
film: Te Henuo E NNoho - There Once Was an Island. See http://www.thereoncewasanisland.com