Local Responses to Climate Change and Disaster-Related Migration in Solomon Islands (English)

The research paper is structured across six sections. Following a brief introduction, section 2 details important context about climate-related migration in Solomon Islands as well as broader patterns of migration. Section 3 outlines the adopted methodology. Section 4 synthesizes the research findings and is organized across three key findings: first, climate change and natural hazards exacerbate pre-existing local vulnerabilities and represent one factor of displacement and migration among many; second, social capital plays a significant role in how local people adapt and respond to climate-related migration; and finally, the significance of intangible loss and damage associated with migration from one's customary land or “homeland”. Section 5 draws conclusions relating to the importance of understanding how people in vulnerable situations use migration as a means of adapting to climate-related challenges. The following section provides a brief description of the Solomon Islands country context and experience with climate change and disaster related migration. The purpose is to situate the findings and recommendations of this research paper.