Considering Climate Migration in Kiribati and Tuvalu Through a Victimological Lens
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Charles Sturt University
Australia -
Charles Sturt University Australia
Abstract
The Pacific Islands of Kiribati and Tuvalu face issues of migration due to the likelihood of their land becoming uninhabitable because of climate change. By adapting criminologists Cohen and Felson’s routine activity theory (RAT) to the context of climate change impacts on the sustainability of Kiribati and Tuvalu, we provide insights on the interplay between Pacific Islanders, greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters and the regional governments and organizations supporting adaptation strategies. The multifaceted coexistence of these three groups accounts for the complexity to develop migration options with acceptable conditions for Pacific Islanders. Grounded primarily in secondary literature, this study provides conceptual insights into structural vulnerabilities and empowerment pathways in Pacific Islands. While recognizing data limitations, this article posits that considering the question of climate migration through a victimological lens enables us to disentangle and discuss some of the key dynamics within climate migration identifying the victimization and empowerment processes for Pacific Islanders.
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Author Biographies
Astrid is an interdisciplinary social scientist working at the intersection of social and ecological systems in an era defined by compounding and borderless disasters. She is a lecturer in Emergency Management at the Australian Graduate School in Policing and Security, Charles Sturt University. She holds a Bachelor and Masters from France in international crises management, a graduate diploma in Psychology at the University of New England, and completed her doctoral thesis at the Centre for Disaster Studies, James Cook University, on integrated disaster resilience in Vanuatu.
Amber is a Clinical and Forensic Victimologist. Her research spans critical areas such as victim vulnerabilities, human exploitation, interpersonal violence, sudden death, thanatology and death rituals. In addition to her academic achievements, she collaborates with key agencies, including the Australian Defence Force, Australian Federal Police, state coroners, and law enforcement organisations. Her contributions extend internationally, including her role as a Visiting Fellow at the University of South Wales.