Planning for Climate Mobility: Developing a Relational Approach to Planned Community Relocation in Solomon Islands

Abstract: As the climate crisis escalates, a number of Pacific Island countries have de- veloped, or are developing, guidelines to address the need for community relocation in the context of both slow environmental change and sudden-onset disasters. In this chap- ter we share our experience of developing Planned Relocation Guidelines for the Solo- mon Islands Government. The chapter sets out the consultative and evidence-based ap- proach that was followed, outlines the key findings from research and engagement with communities and provincial and national authorities, and shows how this evidence base informed the drafting of the Guidelines. The key challenge was translating interna- tional ‘best practice’ into the unique social, economic, political, cultural and ecological context of Solomon Islands. We explain that the Guidelines build upon existing institu- tional structures—government, church-based and customary—that enjoy local legiti- macy and which provide strong linkages from the community level through to the pro- vincial and national levels. We conclude by offering some reflections on ongoing monitoring and further work that will need to be undertaken in the future.