Sydney Environment Institute welcomes two more Collaborative Grant projects

In February 2025, the Sydney Environment Institute funded a further two projects from its flagship Collaborative Grants Scheme. These projects explore culturally-specific measures to address emotional distress caused by environmental changes, and examine how social networks influence the distribution of benefits and burdens in climate adaptation projects.

Climate change and Solastalgia in ethnic minorities in the Western Pacific region

Theme: Environmental Justices

In Australia, the National Health and Climate Strategy highlights the need for mental health interventions to mitigate the impact of climate-related stressors on vulnerable populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The first national climate and health adaptation plan is being developed. This project will provide culturally relevant data to support targeted mental health interventions for these communities, to preserve cultural identity and foster climate resilience.

The team, Associate Professor Ying Zhang, Dr Marcelle Townsend-Cross, Associate Professor Meru Sheel, Caillin Dunsford (Faculty of Medicine and Health), Dr James Dunk (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), Associate Professor Veronica Matthews (University Centre for Rural Health, Lismore), and Dr Marlee Bower (The Matilda Centre) will conduct interviews, community workshops, and mental health questionnaires. The research aims to co-develop culturally appropriate interventions to foster community resilience and well-being.

Mapping social networks to understand disparities in who benefits (and who loses) from climate adaptation projects 

Theme: Climate Disasters and Adaptation

While adaptation efforts aim to reduce climate risk, they often have unintended social and economic consequences, reinforcing existing inequities. However, there is no established quantitative framework to systematically assess who benefits, who loses, and why from adaptation initiatives. 

To address this gap, Associate Professor Michele Barnes, Dr Henry Bartelet (Faculty of Engineering), and Sandra Alday (Business School) will develop and apply a novel social network and systems mapping approach to assess how power, influence, and access to adaptation resources shape adaptation project outcomes. A pilot study in the Philippines will compare small-scale economic actors in communities protected by grey (seawall) vs. green (mangrove restoration) infrastructure, analysing how social ties shape adaptation decision-making. A scoping visit to Kenya will refine the approach for cross-country comparisons.  

The project will generate empirical evidence and a scalable methodology. This research will contribute to climate adaptation scholarship and inform decision-makers to ensure adaptation strategies enhance resilience without reinforcing inequalities.

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