ABSTRACT
Throughout human history, societies have contended with natural hazards. However, the processes of modernisation, urbanisation, and economic development have transformed these natural phenomena into complex disasters. This transformation has been significantly exacerbated by climate change, with particularly severe consequences for human health in island states. This chapter examines the intersection of climate change, disasters, and health risks through a comparative analysis of island states, exploring definitions and theoretical frameworks. Further, this chapter points towards how colonial legacies, post-independence development pathways, and recent neoliberal policies have collectively shaped present-day vulnerabilities. The chapter demonstrates how traditional ecological knowledge systems, which once enabled effective adaptation to environmental variability, have been systematically marginalised through processes of modernisation and globalisation. This chapter highlights contrasting manifestations of sociocultural responses: from the philosophical underpinnings of inequality in UK climate policies, to the marginalisation of traditional knowledge in Sri Lanka, to community-based adaptation strategies in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The analysis concludes by advocating for a more inclusive, collaborative approach to climate-health governance – one that meaningfully incorporates local perspectives and addresses structural vulnerabilities to develop equitable, context-specific solutions for island states facing the escalating challenges of climate change and disaster-related health risks.
