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We are not all the same! Comparative climate change vulnerabilities among fishers in Old Harbour Bay, Jamaica
Relevance and applicability of the research
There is a general consensus that Small Island Developing States are among the most vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change given their small size, tropical location, extensive coastlines, and low-lying topography, exposure to sea level rise, increasing sea surface temperatures, increased intensity of storms, and uncertainty in rainfall events. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the ‘fairness’ of addressing climate change effects for countries such as those in the Caribbean. Commonly known as climate justice, this political approach attempts to understand climate change and its impacts on marginalised populations. While it is important to understand the problem of climate injustice and to attempt to assign responsibility for the cause of the burdens, it is even more necessary to understand ways in which injustice could be addressed by examining how marginalised groups may be able to adjust to the ongoing effects of climate change on their day to day lives. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the vulnerabilities of individuals and communities most impacted by climate change, in order to achieve a targeted approach to building resilience within these communities. Accordingly, this paper examined the socio-economic vulnerability of fishers in Old Harbour Bay, Jamaica, to climate change effects, using a vulnerability index approach aimed at identifying potential
The study confirms
that those with the characteristics of increased marginalisation will tend to be the
most vulnerable. It also postulates that a targeted approach should be
taken to address this comparative vulnerability within the fishing industry.
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