Fijian adolescents’ understanding and evaluation of climate change: Implications for enabling effective future adaptation

Bridie Scott-Parker; Roselyn Kumar

doi:10.1111/apv.12184

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Fijian adolescents’ understanding and evaluation of climate change: Implications for enabling effective future adaptation

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Fijian adolescents’ understanding and evaluation of climate change: Implications for enabling effective future adaptation

Bridie Scott-Parker and Roselyn Kumar

Asia Pacific Viewpoint, Vol.59(1), pp.47-59

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/apv.12184

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

climate change

Fiji

adolescents

community

communication

school

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

Pacific Island countries are particularly vulnerable to future manifestations of climate change due to high coastline-to-land-area ratios, and high dependence of inhabitants on natural ecosystems. While everyone in the Pacific Islands should participate in climate change adaptation activities, given they are the generation likely to not only bear the burden of climate change, but to lead and live effective climate change adaptation specific to their region, the involvement of youth is critical. Pacific Island youths are often marginalised within traditional decision-making hierarchies, therefore they are typically excluded from participating in meaningful discussions at community and government levels. Discussions were held with 30 adolescents aged 14-18 years in Fiji to explore knowledge and experiences regarding climate change. Participants revealed their dismay at their inability to talk to family - who they consider are not doing enough - about what they consider as appropriate responses to climate change, recommending the help of an authoritative outsider who could speak to their community leaders and family. Discussions also revealed that Fijian youth could not distinguish between changes in the climate and normal weather events, attesting to the importance of climate-change education and awareness-raising efforts within the Pacific Islands more generally.

Details

Title: Fijian adolescents’ understanding and evaluation of climate change: Implications for enabling effective future adaptation
Authors: Bridie Scott-Parker (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Roselyn Kumar (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Publication details: Asia Pacific Viewpoint, Vol.59(1), pp.47-59
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1111/apv.12184
ISSN: 1360-7456; 1360-7456
Copyright note: Copyright © 2018 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. This is the accepted version of the following article: Scott-Parker, B. and Kumar, R. (2018), Fijian adolescents' understanding and evaluation of climate change: Implications for enabling effective future adaptation. Asia Pac. Viewp., 59: 47-59. doi:10.1111/apv.12184, which has been published in final form at doi:10.1111/apv.12184
Organisation Unit: Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451214602621
Output Type: Journal article