Living on the margins: Climate change impacts and adaptation by remote communities living in the Pacific Islands, the Himalaya and desert Australia

Abstract

The latest IPCC assessment reports (2021, 2022 and 2023) confirm the devastating impacts of climate change are being felt with increasing frequency and intensity, with these impacts causing profound changes in the livelihoods of remote communities. People who are heavily dependent on agriculture, fisheries and forestry are particularly impacted, with risks and vulnerabilities increasing. These communities are already adapting their livelihoods, yet they often face constrained access to critical information, social safety nets, knowledge and skills, and technology, for effective adaptation to climate change. More importantly, they are typically outside the mainstream decision making and socio-economic structures that provide vital support during times of crisis. This article synthesizes analysis of the climate change impacts on, and adaptation by, remote communities living in very different environments – the tropical islands of the South Pacific, the mountains of the Himalaya in Nepal, and the deserts of central Australia. The authors’ analysis informs discussion about the limitations and strengths of local adaptation by remote communities and what strategies can support them build resilience.