https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83284 2026-04-10T02:18:56Z 2026-04-10T02:18:56Z Foley, Aideen M. Moncada, Stefano https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83377 2026-01-12T12:10:18Z 2021-11-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Guest editorial introduction : critical reflections on governance and ‘resilience’ in small island contexts Authors: Foley, Aideen M.; Moncada, Stefano Abstract: Climate policy documents and national plans of small island states and subnational jurisdictions frequently reference the need for ‘resilience’. Yet, definitions of ‘resilience’ vary across disciplines, and depend on one’s cultural lens. Furthermore, climatic trends and events are often not the only challenges facing island communities; they occur alongside political, economic, social, and cultural change and events, giving rise to context- specific and interlinked vulnerabilities, which in turn require tailored and thoughtful solutions. This special section seeks to reflect on what the concept of 'resilience' means in island contexts, how it is deployed, and the dynamics of governance and decision making for 'resilience'. Drawing on the papers in this special section, we suggest that there are several points of ‘creative tension’ in resilience discourse. Identifying the gaps between ‘resilience’ as currently conceptualised, and what could be, helps us move towards more equitable and just resilience.

2021-11-01T00:00:00Z Walshe, Rory A. Foley, Aideen M. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83376 2021-11-04T11:04:37Z 2021-11-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Learning from the archives of island jurisdictions : why and how island history should inform disaster risk reduction and climate action Authors: Walshe, Rory A.; Foley, Aideen M. Abstract: There is a growing literature challenging assumptions about what ‘data’ on disaster risks and climate change can be and arguing for the need to account for experiences and knowledge from across deeper history. In this paper, we argue that small island states and sub-national jurisdictions can especially benefit from a broader understanding of what data can be and we illustrate how historical narrative and descriptive data from archives can act as a valuable source of knowledge on disasters and climate, both past, and present. Yet, in order to use (and not misuse) these archival sources, we must first appreciate how islands and their histories have previously been engaged with, and how certain narratives about small islands may have shaped how historical data is engaged with (or not). We critically analyse current approaches when engaging with island histories, with particular consideration of the legacy of colonisation and imperialism, and how this is manifested in historical data and methods. Finally, we explore how island histories can educate and inform, locally and globally, realising connections between communities across time and space. We conclude that narrative and descriptive archival historical data is an invaluable source for understanding island vulnerability and resilience. Without such data, our understanding, and our efforts to address contemporary challenges, are likely to be flawed. However, we caution against elevating any one type of data or disciplinary lens. By combining such data with multiple types of data, both literate and non-literate, we can reach a deeper historical and long-term understanding of disaster risks and climate change in small island states and sub-national island jurisdictions.

2021-11-01T00:00:00Z Kelman, Ilan https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83375 2021-11-15T13:06:39Z 2021-11-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Words without meaning? Examining sustainable development terminology through small states and territories Authors: Kelman, Ilan Abstract: Small states and territories have plenty of examples to offer of sustainable development as well as for analysing the terminology used in sustainable development. This paper uses conceptual discussion supported by specific examples from small states and territories to explore these issues, demonstrating limitations and improvements to contemporary sustainable development terminology. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) frequently illustrate the points, for which this paper examines water, waste, and energy. These three are built on for examining climate change through a slightly polemical discussion which mirrors the polemics of sustainable development terminology. Small states and territories are shown to contribute to indicating how and why sustainable development terminology can inhibit practicalities of sustainable development, through detracting and distracting from realities faced, pragmatic decisions which need to be made, and fruitful enactment of desired and desirable pathways.

2021-11-01T00:00:00Z Tandrayen-Ragoobur, Verena Fauzel, Sheereen https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83374 2021-11-04T11:04:05Z 2021-11-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Climate change, governance and economic growth : the case of small island developing states Authors: Tandrayen-Ragoobur, Verena; Fauzel, Sheereen Abstract: The paper investigates the climate change, governance and development nexus for 19 small island developing states (SIDS) from 1995 to 2018. The study uses the Vector Error Correction Model and the results point out that climate change and environmental degradation deter economic growth. Governance has a positive and significant impact on economic growth across the selected SIDS. The findings also confirm a bi-directional causal link between economic growth and governance, and that increasing growth contributes to higher levels of pollution. Finally, governance has no statistically significant effect on environmental degradation. This is attributed to weak governance arrangements in small (and mainly island) states, which fail to have well defined goals and strategies in the climate change sector. There is thus a need to administer policies, programmes, legal instruments, reforms and institutional interventions in a holistic and coordinated manner among and within various institutions across SIDS to build a proper governance structure to curb the impacts of climate change.

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