Climate Resilience on the Island of Pellworm: Balancing Multiple Layers in the Context of Climate Change

The island of Pellworm is located in the German Wadden Sea off the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein. As a low-lying island it has always been threatened by storm surges; climate change is now exacerbating this innate biophysical vulnerability. This case study investigates the climate resilience of the island and its inhabitants in times of climate change. Historically, the threat of the sea has always been present, leading islanders to develop a range of coping strategies that have built up the community’s resilience to natural hazards. In our description of climate resilience, we differentiate between internal (relating to the island and its residents) and external factors (relating to the wider regional and national administrative and policy environment). We show that internal climate resilience is related to social, cultural, and economic factors, as well as qualities that relate to individuals and the island community. Sense of place and pride of place both play an important role in this context. Over recent years, a shift can be observed in that external factors contributing to climate resilience have gained greater importance.