Small islands and climate change

Updated: Tue, 24 Jul 2018

Islands, rocks and tuna: Pacific nations draw new battle lines against rising seas

Pacific states are rushing to formally lock in economic zones with fishing and mining rights around remote islands threatened by higher seas, as the planet warms

Hit by COVID and climate change, island states battle debt
'(We) are sinking, and it's not due to just the sea level rise and climate change. We are actually sinking in debt,' says chair of island alliance By Megan Rowling | Mon, 14 Sep 2020
Pacific cyclone and coronavirus create 'perfect storm' of worry
Island nations struggle to manage deadly Cyclone Harold while trying to stave off spread of the virus pandemic By Laurie Goering | Wed, 8 Apr 2020
Australia urged to offer migration safety valve to Pacific islands
Allowing climate-threatened islanders more opportunities to live and work in Australia could aid both places, researchers say By Laurie Goering | Thu, 22 Oct 2020
New Zealand makes first donation to Fiji climate relocation fund
Fund aims to support efforts already underway to resettle people at risk from sea level rise and other climate-related threats By Laurie Goering | Wed, 26 Feb 2020
interview Debt hampers green transition in islands: Antigua & Barbuda PM
As COVID-19 adds to economic woes and climate shocks worsen, small island nations find themselves further in debt, and struggling to finance plans for greener energy By Megan Rowling | Mon, 15 Mar 2021
interview 'We can't close our eyes' to climate change-Marshall Isles ex-pres
In this low-lying Pacific Island nation, even a former president must deal with seawater washing into her garden By Nicola Milne | Thu, 16 Jan 2020
Marshall Islands starts twitter push urging 2020 climate ambition
#MAD4survival campaign aims to spur countries into more ambitious action on still-rising climate-changing emissions By Megan Rowling | Sat, 7 Dec 2019
Balearic Islands chart green path with climate change law
Coal power would disappear by 2025, replaced with solar and wind power - and more electric vehicles By Megan Rowling | Tue, 12 Feb 2019
As climate costs rocket, Vanuatu seeks allies to sue for damages
With its infrastructure "totally degraded" by climate change, "we have to find other ways of getting the money we need," says the foreign minister By Laurie Goering | Tue, 11 Dec 2018
Protect coastal, island communities now as seas rise - scientists
Some areas that once flooded only every 100 years or so could face annual flooding by 2050 unless strong protective measures are put in place By Laurie Goering | Wed, 25 Sep 2019
Colombia's island fishermen dive into battle to protect coral reef
As climate change and growing tourism hurt coral, efforts to "garden" new coral - and save incomes - are paying off By Anastasia Moloney | Mon, 12 Nov 2018
Caribbean states kick off green defense against disasters
The Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator marks the culmination of talks that began last year By Sebastien Malo | Thu, 9 Aug 2018
From smarter energy to less plastic, Caribbean resorts go green
"The customer has to pay less for the room, we have to pay less for energy … and in the end everybody benefits" By Jewel Fraser | Fri, 1 Feb 2019
Climate change 'imminent' security threat: risk experts
From Iraq and Pakistan to the Caribbean, climate change is driving threats of new insecurity and violence, security analysts say By Laurie Goering | Tue, 19 Feb 2019
For survivors of Fiji's deadly cyclone, mental scars linger
"Fijians are very happy people. They brush things away. But with this one, it was very hard to pick up again" By Laurie Goering | Mon, 26 Mar 2018
As warming threatens reefs, Fiji explores inland tourism
Businesses are looking at new ways to attract visitors that benefit the environment and local communities By Aileen Torres-Bennett | Fri, 26 Oct 2018
African islands call for help as climate change worsens health
At least 23 percent of deaths in Africa are linked to the environment By Nellie Peyton | Thu, 8 Nov 2018
Marshall Islands marches toward zero greenhouse emissions by 2050
The announcement was charged with symbolism, with the Marshall Islands contributing less than 0.00001 percent of the global total of emissions By Sebastien Malo | Mon, 24 Sep 2018
Puerto Ricans caught between eviction threat and devastation
Nearly 1,000 Puerto Rican families displaced in 2017 by Hurricane Maria were allowed to stay in US hotels and motels beyond a July 5 deadline By Reuters | Tue, 3 Jul 2018
Insurance turns to coral reefs and mangroves as ocean risks surge
As climate change brings worsening threats, insurance may be a way to insure against ocean losses By Emma Farge | Mon, 14 May 2018
Rising disaster risk but little insurance interest in Pacific
Limited take-up so far is linked to small island nations' reluctance to foot the bill for the effects of climate change, says insurance expert By Jared Ferrie | Fri, 29 Jun 2018
Islands comb own shores for solutions to environment stress
Islands are pushing forward with efforts to preserve their natural wealth and protect their people from disasters By Megan Rowling | Thu, 26 Apr 2018
interview Tiny Marshall Islands wields outsized clout for climate action
"We're a small country but when it comes to shipping we are a force to reckon with," says the environment minister By Laurie Goering | Fri, 13 Apr 2018
Hawaii campus joins U.S. trend to go all green
"We thought by doing this it would be a great example" By Sebastien Malo | Tue, 20 Mar 2018

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