Resilience on the Reef | Tuvalu’s struggle against water and food insecurity

In 2019, Hurricane Dorian left 70,000 Bahamians homeless and caused $3.4 billion in damage. In the aftermath, The Bahamas came together to revitalize communities and ecosystems devastated by the storm. Natural resources like mangroves and coral reefs are the first line of defense against weather events, acting as buffers that mitigate the severity of floods and storm surges. But climate change is weakening these vital habitats and increasing the intensity and frequency of catastrophic storms. Still reeling from the destruction, Bahamians remain united and resilient, working to restore the terrestrial and marine environment and prepare for future disasters.

Monkey River, a coastal community in southern Belize, is grappling with the severe impacts of an escalating climate crisis. This community has witnessed the disappearance of its once thriving beach — a vibrant tapestry of biodiversity and a vital pillar of its ecotourism industry — due to relentless sea level rise and erosion. This scene is just a glimpse of the country’s ongoing battle with climate change, as homes have succumbed to the encroaching sea, and even the cemetery, a revered resting place for generations, is now underwater. But the determined and innovative community of Monkey River continues to face these challenges head-on.

The remote island nation of Niue thrives on a culture deeply connected to the ocean. But as Niue grapples with rising sea levels and increasingly severe weather — events that have even led to the destruction of the country’s museum — the climate crisis is exacting a toll of immeasurable significance: the erosion of Niue’s traditions, language, and culture.