Abaiang Island, Kiribati: a whole-of-island integrated vulnerability assessment

Abstract

This report assesses the socioecological context of Abaiang Atoll in relation to climate change and disaster risks, and examines the capacity of the atoll community to reduce risks and adapt to the impact of environmental change. As such, an understanding of the atoll’s vulnerability was developed by identifying Abaiang’s key socioecological features and the experienced and anticipated pressures stemming from demographic, developmental and climatic change. The gradual impact of climate change is expected to have a ‘multiplier effect’ on the impacts of population growth, land-use practices and resource extraction. Abaiang’s adaptive capacity is determined by the natural, infrastructural, financial and human resources the atoll community has to adapt, and the ability of local institutions to utilise accessible resources efficiently and effectively to adequately meet livelihood (settlement, water, food, income) needs on a daily basis, as well as in periods of climatic and disaster-related stress (Office of te Beretitenti)