Browsing by Author "Taupo, Tauisi"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Open Access
At the very edge of a storm: The impact of a distant cyclone on Atoll Islands
(Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2016) Taupo, Tauisi; Noy, Ilan
The intensity of cyclones in the Pacific is predicted to increase and sea levels are predicted to rise, so a small atoll nation like Tuvalu can serve as the ‘canary in the mine’ pointing to the new risks that are emerging because of climatic change. In Tuvalu, households are acutely vulnerable to storm surges caused by cyclones even if the cyclone itself passes very far away (in this case about a 1000km). Based on a survey we conducted in Tuvalu, we quantify the impacts of cyclone Pam (March 2015) on households, and the determinants of these impacts in terms of hazard, exposure, vulnerability and responsiveness. Lastly, we constructed hypothetical policy scenarios, and calculated the estimated loss and damage they would have been associated with – a first step in building careful assessments of the feasibility of various disaster risk reduction policies.
Open Access
Household vulnerability on the frontline of climate change: The Pacific atoll nation of Tuvalu
(Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2016) Taupo, Tauisi; Cuffe, Harold; Noy, Ilan
This paper investigates the vulnerability of households to climatic disasters in the low-lying atoll nation of Tuvalu. Small Island Developing States, particularly the atoll islands, are considered to be the most vulnerable to climatic change, and in particular to sea-level rise and its associated risks. We construct poverty and hardship profiles for households on the different islands of Tuvalu, and combine these with geographic and topographic information to assess the exposure differentials among different groups using spatial econometric models. Besides the observation that poor households are more vulnerable to negative shocks because they lack the resources to respond, we also find that they are also more likely to reside in highly exposed areas to disasters (closer to the coasts and at lower elevation) and have less ability to migrate (between and within the islands).
Open Access
Sustainable financing for climate and disaster resilience in Atoll Islands: Evidence from Tuvalu and Kiribati
(Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2017) Taupo, Tauisi
This paper examines the financing of disaster risk management. Future climate and disaster risks are predicted to impose increasing financial pressure on the governments of low-lying atoll nations. The aftermath of a disaster, such as a cyclone, requires financial means for quick response and recovery. We quantify the appropriate levels of financial support for expected disasters in Tuvalu and Kiribati by building on the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI) calculated likely costs for disasters. To these, we add estimates of the potential effects of distant cyclones, droughts, sea level rise, and climate change, as they are predicted to affect low-lying atoll islands. This paper focuses on the potential contribution of the sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) of Tuvalu and Kiribati in reducing reliance on foreign aid for ex-post disaster risk management. We forecast the future size of SWFs using Monte Carlo simulations and an Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average model. We examine the long-term sustainability of SWFs, and the feasibility of extending their mandate for disaster recovery.