Sinking Islands, drowned logic; Climate change and community-based adaptation discourses in Solomon Islands

Abstract

The saltwater people of Solomon Islands are often portrayed to be at the front line of climate change. In media, policy and development discourses the erosion and abandonment of the small , man made islands along the coast if Malaita is attributed to climate change induced sea-level rise. The paper investigates this sinking islands narratives and and argues that a narrow focus on the projected impacts of climate change distracts attention and resources from more pressing environmental and development problems that are threatening rural livelihoods.