Navigating the “Right to Stay”: A Comparative Analysis of Perceptions on Climate Adaptation in Kiribati and the Marshall Islands

Abstract

This study compares the perceptions of climate change adaptation, migration, and the “Right to Stay” among post-secondary students in Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Using a common survey instrument, responses from students at The University of the South Pacific and College of the Marshall Islands were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test and Benjamini–Hochberg correction. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences across several dimensions. Students in Kiribati expressed stronger support for rights-based adaptation measures related to the “Right to Stay” and placed greater emphasis on advance preparation for international migration. In contrast, students in the Marshall Islands indicated significantly stronger support for certain domestic infrastructure-based adaptations, particularly for the construction of artificial islands. Moreover, differences were observed in migration intentions, expectations of post-graduation employment, and perceptions of cultural and linguistic continuity following migration. Simultaneously, no significant differences were found in the overall life satisfaction or perceived severity of sea-level-rise risks. These findings provide empirical evidence that adaptation- and migration-related preferences differ systematically across atoll nations, underscoring the importance of the national context in adaptation policy discussions.