ENSC 402: Island Countries: Adapt or Evacuate

The goal of our research project is to examine the strategies used by island countries of different economic and geographic size to combat climate change and its impact on shorelines. We analyze cases from two ‘extremes’, the island countries of Japan and the Maldives. We summarize the individual strategies of each country towards handling climate change in regard to sea-level rise on the coast to compare and contrast their different strategies. Our research relies on the concepts from system theory, social policy for “wicked problems in climate change,” adaptive management, and environmental decision-making. This issue is significant because it is often the case that many countries have large cities near the coast or close to water. The issue of sea-level rise threatens the safety of infrastructure, people, economy, and ecosystems. Climate change and sea-level rise are serious issues that have been overlooked by some countries while other countries are thinking ahead and trying to come-up with better solutions and alternatives. The approaches that are taken to adapt to climate change are not always the best, and they are made through processes that may overlook or undermine issues of serious importance. Examining different environmental agendas and decision-making processes can provide insight into the range of activities being implemented to adapt to climate change.