With the intensification of tropical weather systems, associated with climate change, the compound interaction of non-hydrometeorological and hydrometeorological hazards is likely to increase, as seen in the lahars during the April 2021 explosive eruption of La Soufriere volcano in SVG. Small volcanic islands are especially at risk, given the likelihood of human settlements being located in highly exposed areas due to land use pressures.A sequential, exploratory, mixed method approach was used to collect qualitative (elite interviews and an analysis of DRR and CCA policies in the Caribbean SIDS of Dominica and SVG) and quantitative data via household questionnaire surveys (N=402). The data was analysed using thematic content analysis (NViVO) and various statistical analyses (STATA).

 

Among the findings were that comprehensive disaster management (CDM) could address DRR and CCA, but would require an improvement in inter-agency collaboration. Social capital, land use planning and economic instruments could build resilience to all hazards. Regarding social capital, generally, persons no longer assist in their communities without payment, except during, and immediately after, disasters. This adds a Caribbean island communities’ perspective to the current understanding of social capital, which mostly focuses on Pacific island communities within the literature. There was little divergence between both countries in terms of the results, except for a stronger acknowledgement and consideration of non-climate related hazards in SVG than in Dominica. Finally, by (i) improving public education; (ii) removing partisan political biases in executing DRR and CCA activities; (iii) mainstreaming DRR and CCA into the national development process; and, (iv) using knowledge brokerage to facilitate improved communication among stakeholders, scientific knowledge can support policy and practice.

 

The thesis advances theoretical knowledge regarding the nexus between volcanic risk reduction and CCA in volcanic SIDS, especially the strategies which can address multiple hazards in this context, a combination that has scarcely been examined by the literature. The thesis also extends the current body of knowledge of mixed methodologies when dealing with disaster and volcanic risk reduction in concert with CCA. The findings have numerous implications for DRR and CCA policy in volcanic SIDS, especially considering addressing both simultaneously and their compound, cascading and complex effects.

 

Keywords: DRR, CCA, SIDS, volcanic risk reduction, mixed methods