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Climate Change Adaptation in the Agriculture and Land Use Sectors: A Review of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Read chapter Read first chapter

2020 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

Dam(n) Seawalls: A Case of Climate Change Maladaptation in Fiji

Authors : Annah E. Piggott-McKellar, Patrick D. Nunn, Karen E. McNamara, Seci T. Sekinini

Published in: Managing Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific Region

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

Coastal communities in Pacific Island Countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts including sea-level rise, coastal erosion, tidal inundation, and the intensification of storm surge activity. In response, adaptation projects across the region have attempted to reduce exposure and overall vulnerability to these coastal pressures. This paper explores what happens once these projects reach communities: are effective and sustainable outcomes achieved, or can the implementation of adaptation projects lead to unintended negative outcomes and result in maladaptation? This paper investigates this issue in relation to two seawall projects implemented in communities on Vanua Levu Island, Fiji. We found that the seawalls have not been successful in achieving their primary aim of safeguarding communities against coastal pressures and have instead resulted in unanticipated negative outcomes for land and livelihood security. Of primary concern is the way that seawalls trap water along their landward sides—acting more like a dam—because of the ineffective design and construction of the seawalls and associated infrastructure. This paper concludes with a call to think more long-term about site-specific adaptation measures that actively involve and are driven by local perspectives in the planning, implementation, and maintenance process.

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previous chapter “Adaptation in Small Islands: Research Themes and Gaps”
next chapter An Overview of the Information Presented in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
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Metadata
Title
Dam(n) Seawalls: A Case of Climate Change Maladaptation in Fiji
Authors
Annah E. Piggott-McKellar
Patrick D. Nunn
Karen E. McNamara
Seci T. Sekinini
Copyright Year
2020
Book
Managing Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific Region

Print ISBN: 978-3-030-40551-9

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-40552-6

Copyright Year: 2020

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40552-6_4