Understanding Cortes Island beliefs, knowledge, and preferences to inform local climate action
Date
2025
Authors
Martínez Candelas, Ilse Alejandra
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Abstract
Climate change has direct and indirect effects on all ecosystems on the planet, with mostly negative impacts on human societies. In the last century, we have witnessed an increase in extreme weather events worldwide, including droughts, floods, and heat waves, which have caused immeasurable economic losses and social crises (Newman and Noy, 2023). While developed countries are the main greenhouse gas producers, the impacts of climate change will disproportionately affect developing countries (Althor et al., 2016). The severity of the impacts will increase with rising temperatures, and current projections estimate an increase of more than 1.5 °C, which will permanently alter ecosystem dynamics on the planet. Even in the best-case scenario, essential ecosystems for planetary health will reach a tipping point where they will not be able to recover from changing environmental conditions (Lenton,. et al., 2025).
Climate change predictions indicate altered seasonal trends in British Columbia, with warmer temperatures and increased rainfall in some areas, and a general decrease in marine biomass (Ainsworth et al., 2011; Haughian et al., 2012). The impacts of climate change are already felt by those who have interacted and depended on natural resources for millennia, with Indigenous groups highlighting ecological changes in the area (Turner and Clifton, 2009). Small islands are especially vulnerable to external stressors due to their unique social and ecological context. They can lack infrastructure and be at higher risk of coastal erosion, sea level rise, and constant worries about water availability (Lane et al., 2013).
Cortes Island is a small island part of the Discovery Islands Archipelago in the Salish Sea. It has approximately 1,000 residents and is part of the unceded traditional territories of the toq qaymɩxʷ (Klahoose), ɬəʔamɛn qaymɩxʷ (Tla’amin), and χʷɛmaɬkʷu (Homalco) First Nations (Kennedy et al., 2024). This island has historically faced challenges in implementing effective climate action initiatives and will have to endure the impacts of climate change with limited communication with the mainland, relying primarily on its inhabitants. Therefore, we will use participatory research methods to record local people’s perceptions of immediate climate risks affecting the island as well as their preferences for collective action. This project will serve as a first step to determine future actions.
Description
2025 UVic Sustainability Scholars Program Final Report
Keywords
climate, action, beliefs, Cortes Island, ecosystems, community knowledge, climate change, Sustainability Scholars Program