Being resilient in the face of climate change seems especially important for island societies, which face the effects of rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, changing wind patterns and sea level rise. To date, most studies of adaptation and resilience among Pacific island communities have used indicators and methods rooted in Western science and neo‐classical economics. These have been criticized as being locally irrelevant and inadequate to appreciate the dynamic nature and social structures of island communities and their capacity to adapt. This paper challenges the paradigm that defines resilience as a return to equilibrium, by using a non‐equilibrium, cultural ecological lens. The non‐equilibrium view of resilience sees the social systems of island nations as highly dynamic and undergoing persistent adaptation in the face of changing environmental factors. Field‐based research undertaken in eight villages in Samoa found that, through constant exposure to environmental change over extended periods of time, communities have become resilient and are in a position to adapt to future changes. In developing future policy in relation to climate change, Pacific island governments need to develop a more nuanced understanding of islanders’ perceptions and historical actions in the context of both their physical locations and their dynamic socio‐cultural systems.

中文翻译：

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萨摩亚的气候变化与社区复原力

面对气候变化，保持韧性对于海岛社会尤其重要，因为海岛社会面临着温度升高，降雨无法预测，风向变化和海平面上升的影响。迄今为止，大多数对太平洋岛屿社区之间的适应和复原力的研究都使用了扎根于西方科学和新古典经济学的指标和方法。有人批评说，这些与当地无关，不足以理解岛屿社区的动态性质和社会结构及其适应能力。本文通过使用非平衡的文化生态学视角，挑战了将复原力定义为恢复平衡的范式。非平衡的弹性观点认为，岛国的社会系统是高度动态的，并且在不断变化的环境因素面前不断适应。在萨摩亚的八个村庄进行的实地研究发现，通过长期不断暴露于环境变化，社区已变得具有弹性，并能够适应未来的变化。在制定与气候变化有关的未来政策时，太平洋岛国政府需要在岛民的地理位置和动态的社会文化系统的背景下，对岛民的观念和历史行为有更细微的了解。通过长期不断地暴露于环境变化，社区已经变得适应力强并且能够适应未来的变化。在制定与气候变化有关的未来政策时，太平洋岛国政府需要在岛民的地理位置和动态的社会文化系统的背景下，对岛民的观念和历史行为有更细微的了解。通过长期不断暴露于环境变化，社区已变得具有弹性，并能够适应未来的变化。在制定与气候变化有关的未来政策时，太平洋岛国政府需要在岛民的地理位置和动态的社会文化系统的背景下，对岛民的观念和历史行为有更细微的了解。