In the global debate of climate change the fate of small islands states has played a significant role, in spite of the relatively few people affected. This thesis examines how such islands, here mainly represented by two atoll groups in remote parts of Solomon Islands in the Southwest Pacific, Reef Islands and Ontong Java, have been and will be affected, and what adaptation strategies they may employ. An attempt is made to cover a wide range of aspects of this problem field, spanning from climate change itself and its impacts on livelihood
activities to decision-making processes and sets of actions undertaken to maintain the capacity to deal with these impacts along with a range of other stresses. The results presented show that the widely held view that atoll islands are threatened by almost immediate flooding is not supported by evidence. Rather, more pressing stressors are those associated with the marginal socioeconomic and geographical position of the island groups within Solomon Islands along with internal factors, not the least population growth and pressure on natural resources. This gives rise to both push and pull factors contributing to the widespread migration of islanders, in particular young men, to other locations in the Solomon Islands, especially the capital city Honiara, in search of better income, education and city lifestyles.
The thesis studies how (more or less) forced relocations of island communities in the past have cast long shadows, due to unresolved issues of land tenure, while current voluntary migration may be claimed to have positive effects on island communities. In order for migration to constitute a viable ‘adaptation option’ in a future situation of increased rate of sea-level rise, certain barriers to migration need to be overcome, however. Theses barriers include problems of achieving land tenure security outside the home island, unresolved issues of housing of migrants, problems of finding proper jobs, and expensive and irregular ship connections to the islands. It is argued that if these barriers are overcome, voluntary migration may be considered a flexible adaptation strategy, which should be supported. The analysis of island livelihoods shows that vulnerability of island communities may be reduced by other means as well, not the least by developing new income generating activities, and by improving natural resource management practices, both as concerns land and marine resources.