I am seeking your support to conduct research exploring the psychological impacts of climate change among residents of Tuvalu - one of the world's nations most immediately vulnerable to the unfolding impacts of climate change. 


Tuvalu is a very small independent nation in the South Pacific. It is made up of low-lying reef islands and coral atolls, with an average elevation of just two metres above sea level.

Tuvalu is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. These include: sea level rise, which increases flooding and erosion; salt water intrusion, which results in brackish groundwater and loss of crops; decreases in rainfall, which heightens the risk of drought; more severe cyclones, which cause flood and damage to infrastructure; and rising sea-surface temperatures, which leads to coral bleaching.


Many leaders in Tuvalu have expressed fear that Tuvalu will soon cease to exist. Accordingly, several anecdotal reports tell us people are in a state of existential crisis. Yet there is also evidence that some Tuvaluans do not feel threatened by climate change, apparently due to religious convictions:  

“Some think this [climate change] is a problem and a reason to leave. But more people do not think about this too much – because people believe in God and that this place will be safe. This is our belief.”
Tuvaluan interviewee (Mortreux & Barnett, 2009).

The research

I have obtained small amounts of funding to support this project from the Melbourne Social Equity Institute and the Melbourne University School of Psychological Sciences.

I need an additional $6,920 to cover the costs of two phases of fieldwork. The first fieldwork phase will be for three weeks in 2015, and the second for 8 weeks in 2016. Specifically, the money will be used to help cover the cost of economy flights, basic accommodation in Funafuti, and daily fieldwork expenses.

Flights ~ $1,600 return, per trip
Accommodation ~ $455/week
Fieldwork costs (food, scooter hire, internet, printing) ~ $238/week