Why petitions matter

Over 3,000 kilometers northeast of Australia lies a delicate string of 83 remote islands, an archipelago that makes up the country of Vanuatu. Here, storms and sea level rise are damaging cultural sites, fracturing local customs, language, and communities, and causing mass displacement. Vanuatu is now leading the call for international climate justice and the legal recognition of UN member states’ responsibilities to address climate change, domestically and abroad.

In the face of climate change and severe weather events, Fiji and Samoa’s Indigenous knowledge systems highlight the need for the integration of science and Indigenous expertise to mitigate the effects of climate change.

In the Marshall Islands, a concerted community effort is fighting hard to protect not only their home, but also their identity, their landmarks, their history, and their future.

Fueled by a warming ocean, the aggressive proliferation of sargassum seaweed has turned an important ecological haven in the open seas into a destructive force inundating the coastline of the Dominican Republic. Now swaths of the Dominican Republic’s shores are covered by masses of rotting algae, disrupting local communities and industries that depend on a healthy ocean. But people are working to turn this crisis into an opportunity.

Rising sea levels and exceptionally high tides are displacing communities across Papua New Guinea, disproportionately affecting women. Tulele Peisa, a women-led relocation organization, is setting an example for climate migration efforts around the world.

The Caribbean is a paradise in peril — more than 50% of the Caribbean’s coral reefs could be lost by 2050. Urgent action is needed from the global community to preserve these vital ecosystems and protect the region’s economy.

The Maldives are the lowest lying islands on Earth, and they’re sinking — by 2050, 80% of the island nation could become uninhabitable. The deterioration of coral reefs poses a threat to the country’s biodiversity, economy, and existence.

This October, the countries responsible for protecting the Southern Ocean will meet to vote on the creation of three marine protected areas covering almost 4 million square kilometers of ocean. Here, Philippe Cousteau calls for action — and invites you to join the chorus.

When Hurricane Dorian hit in 2019, the scenic beauty of the Bahamas was left in ruins. With climate change exacerbating the impacts of tropical weather systems more and more, genuine action is what’s needed, and everyone must play their part.

Mangroves are home to a diverse array of species, help protect coastlines, build economic strength, and take carbon out of the air. Ocean scientist and photographer Octavio Aburto investigates what a mangrove forest is worth to the planet and humanity today.

Aceh’s coastal villages in Indonesia were devastated by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. The survivors decided to plant mangroves as a buffer against future storms, and so far so good.

Below the surface of a mangrove lagoon, it’s heaven on Earth. You’ll find an abundance of marine life that depends on this salty and unique ecosystem.

If we turn our gaze to the rich mud of coastal wetlands, we will find a hidden treasure that can help us protect our planet from the damaging effects of climate change.