Challenges in mainstreaming climate change into productive coastal sectors in a Small Island State – The case of Trinidad and Tobago

Purpose This study aims to examine primary care physicians who are in a tenable position to identify signs of abuse in older adults as well as provide an opportunity to safeguard them from abuse. Yet little is known about their clinical decision-making process during a clinic visit to detect abuse of older adults and provide adequate support in the Caribbean. Design/methodology/approach Fourteen primary care physicians working in a government operated free clinic were interviewed about their clinical decision-making process, in a narrative analysis format on the small island state of Trinidad and Tobago. Findings Primary care physicians expressed lack of knowledge about the primary health-care clinics’ protocols and procedures regarding abuse of older adults. Lack of attendance to educational in-service programs on recognizing and reporting abuse of older adults. A hands-off approach with non-medical abuse issues. Last there is no uniform assessments among the different types of physicians. Practical implications Although these findings are among primary care physicians located in Trinidad and Tobago, the context may be applied to primary care settings in other Caribbean islands. Major focus should be geared towards increasing awareness among the public and health-care professionals. Originality/value Sparse research on small island states regarding safeguarding policies for older adults who experience abuse.

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Climate Impacts on Capital Accumulation in the Small Island State of Barbados

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11113192 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3192 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Eric Kemp-Benedict ◽

Jonathan Lamontagne ◽

Timothy Laing ◽

Crystal Drakes

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Capital Accumulation ◽

Climate Impacts ◽

Small Island ◽

Storm Damage ◽

Damage Functions ◽

Island State ◽

Future Loss ◽

Economic Analyses ◽

Small Island State

This paper constructs a model of climate-related damage for small island developing states (SIDS). We focus on the loss of private productive capital stocks through extreme climate events. In contrast to most economic analyses of climate impacts, which assume temperature-dependent damage functions, we draw on the engineering literature to allow for a greater or lesser degree of anticipation of climate change when designing capital stocks and balancing current adaptation expenditure against future loss and damage. We apply the model to tropical storm damage in the small island developing state of Barbados and show how anticipatory behavior changes the damage to infrastructure for the same degree of climate change. Thus, in the model, damage depends on behavior as well as climate variables.

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Climate Change and Tradition in a Small Island State: The Rising Tides By Peter Rudiak-Gould New York: Routledge. 2013. Pp: xviii+224 Price: US$128

Oceania ◽

10.1002/ocea.5081 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 85 (1) ◽

pp. 133-134

Author(s):

David Lipset

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

New York ◽

Small Island ◽

Island State ◽

Small Island State

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Adaptation to the Climate Crisis: Opportunities for Food and Nutrition Security and Health in a Pacific Small Island State

Weather Climate and Society ◽

10.1175/wcas-d-19-0090.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 745-758 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Amy Savage ◽

Lisa Schubert ◽

Corey Huber ◽

Hilary Bambrick ◽

Nina Hall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Small Island ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Socioeconomic Drivers ◽

Island State ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Climate Crisis ◽

Small Island State

AbstractClimate change, malnutrition, and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are three of the most significant health challenges of this century, and they share fundamental underlying drivers. Pacific Island countries (PICs) are at the forefront of the impacts of climate change, which is likely to affect food and nutrition security (FNS) directly and indirectly, and many countries have existing high NCD burdens. This paper surveys the climate change adaptation (CCA) landscape in one PIC, Vanuatu. It explores the extent to which FNS and diet-related NCDs are considered and addressed within CCA initiatives. A comprehensive review of the literature related to CCA, FNS, and NCDs in Vanuatu was combined with 32 semistructured interviews with key experts and stakeholders. This study found that some promising groundwork has been laid for tackling the effects of climate change on FNS in policy and governance, agriculture, coastal management, and nutrition. However, several opportunities for strengthening CCA were identified: targeting urban populations; complementary integration of disaster risk reduction and CCA; incorporating local knowledge; applying a systems-based framing of NCDs as climate-sensitive health risks; and emphasizing human-centered, community-led CCA. Vanuatu will continue to be affected by accelerating climate change. A strong foundation for CCA presents clear opportunities for further development. As food and nutrition insecurity and diet-related NCD risk factors are increasingly exacerbated by climate change, alongside other socioeconomic drivers, it is crucial to find new and innovative ways to increase transformational resilience and adaptive capacity that also improve nutrition and health outcomes.

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