Media climate change reports ‘ignore Pacific insights’

Lived experiences of Pacific people are vital to understanding and combating climate change, says academic

Climate change research in the Pacific is largely “conducted by outsiders” and dominated by western-based views that ignore the lived experiences of local communities, a University of Waikato communications academic has said.

Jessica Pasisi, who is of Niuean heritage, did her PhD thesis on climate change perceptions among women living on the island of Niue. She said her research experience also highlighted problems caused by a lack of Pacific and Māori academics at New Zealand universities.