Strings attached: New Zealand’s climate aid in the South Pacific

Commentary: Throughout New Zealand’s history, the nation has maintained a close and privileged relationship with its island neighbours in the South Pacific, exemplified by centuries of trade and migration. As the effects of climate change encroach on South Pacific nations such as the Cook Islands, F...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Matthew Scott
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Asia Pacific Network 2021-09-01
Series:Pacific Journalism Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/pacific-journalism-review/article/view/1186
_version_ 1818891406970716160
author Matthew Scott
author_facet Matthew Scott
author_sort Matthew Scott
collection DOAJ
description Commentary: Throughout New Zealand’s history, the nation has maintained a close and privileged relationship with its island neighbours in the South Pacific, exemplified by centuries of trade and migration. As the effects of climate change encroach on South Pacific nations such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, New Zealand has implemented an aid programme via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in order to mitigate the effects of the changing climate on these countries economically and socially. However, research depicts an aid programme that may do harm alongside good—by prioritising climate change mitigation over more sustainable and community-centred strategies, New Zealand has created a situation in which these countries become dependent on our solutions to their problems. By researching the controversial record of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies funded by developed nations across the South Pacific, it becomes evident that New Zealand’s programme of climate aid in the region is neocolonial and unsustainable.
first_indexed 2024-12-19T17:40:19Z
format Article
id doaj.art-271dd2f443414d2d9830c103defdeb5c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1023-9499
2324-2035
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-19T17:40:19Z
publishDate 2021-09-01
publisher Asia Pacific Network
record_format Article
series Pacific Journalism Review
spelling doaj.art-271dd2f443414d2d9830c103defdeb5c2022-12-21T20:12:13ZengAsia Pacific NetworkPacific Journalism Review1023-94992324-20352021-09-01271&210.24135/pjr.v27i1&2.1186Strings attached: New Zealand’s climate aid in the South PacificMatthew Scott0New ZealandCommentary: Throughout New Zealand’s history, the nation has maintained a close and privileged relationship with its island neighbours in the South Pacific, exemplified by centuries of trade and migration. As the effects of climate change encroach on South Pacific nations such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, New Zealand has implemented an aid programme via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in order to mitigate the effects of the changing climate on these countries economically and socially. However, research depicts an aid programme that may do harm alongside good—by prioritising climate change mitigation over more sustainable and community-centred strategies, New Zealand has created a situation in which these countries become dependent on our solutions to their problems. By researching the controversial record of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies funded by developed nations across the South Pacific, it becomes evident that New Zealand’s programme of climate aid in the region is neocolonial and unsustainable.https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/pacific-journalism-review/article/view/1186adaptationclimate changeFijiforeign aidglobal warmingMFAT
spellingShingle Matthew Scott
Strings attached: New Zealand’s climate aid in the South Pacific
Pacific Journalism Review
adaptation
climate change
Fiji
foreign aid
global warming
MFAT
title Strings attached: New Zealand’s climate aid in the South Pacific
title_full Strings attached: New Zealand’s climate aid in the South Pacific
title_fullStr Strings attached: New Zealand’s climate aid in the South Pacific
title_full_unstemmed Strings attached: New Zealand’s climate aid in the South Pacific
title_short Strings attached: New Zealand’s climate aid in the South Pacific
title_sort strings attached new zealand s climate aid in the south pacific
topic adaptation
climate change
Fiji
foreign aid
global warming
MFAT
url https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/pacific-journalism-review/article/view/1186
work_keys_str_mv AT matthewscott stringsattachednewzealandsclimateaidinthesouthpacific