This paper describes a community-based framework for combining different types of knowledge to address climate change. It builds on earlier work by Mercer to develop and pilot a framework for addressing disaster risk reduction in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and looks at community participation in disaster risk reduction activities. The 52 SIDS face similar sustainability challenges, including exceptional vulnerability to climate change. The framework also draws on an assessment of climate change impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation across SIDS prepared by Kelman, West, and colleagues under the Many Strong Voices (MSV) programme. Participatory Learning and Action (PLA, formerly PLA Notes) is the world's leading series on participatory learning and action approaches and methods. PLA publishes articles on participation aimed at practitioners, researchers, academics and activists. All articles are peer-reviewed by an international editorial board. See: www.planotes.org