Culture can be defined as 'material and non-material symbols that express collective meaning'  and includes worldviews and values, how individuals and communities relate to their environment, and what they perceive to be at risk and in need of adaptation . In small islands, culture plays an important role in individual and community decision-making on adaptation both as an enabling factor and as a barrier  . The concept of Vai Nui as the interconnectedness of Pacific Islanders continues to support the collective agency to plan and undertake adaptation efforts in the region . In Samoa, the principles of Fa'asamoa  impacts on how decisions are made, including the role of the aiga  that is a web of local, national and transnational kinship networks . Traditional village council structures and land stewardship enable an expanded range of coastal adaptation options in Samoa, including potential relocation, but at the same time may limit participation of all social groups in adaptation decision-making . In Dominica, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria , social capital in the form of transboundary nearby island networks enabled some communities to recover faster from the disaster including access to more livelihood opportunities and assets .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report