Diverging Resilience Realities: Reflections on Conceptual Differences of Climate Resilience Building in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific

Abstract

Resilience has become a prominent concept in development policy, describing the intersection between climate, disaster risk reduction and development (Bahadur et al. 2013). However, resilience lacks a universal definition, meaning it is often applied differently across disciplines and contexts. This In Brief reflects on differences in conceptual understandings of resilience using the case of Aotearoa New Zealand’s (henceforth Aotearoa) Resilience Approach in the Pacific. It ultimately highlights the need for deeper intercultural dialogue to bridge conflicting worldviews for more coherent and contextually grounded resilience policy and practice.