Global Issues Insight

Climate & Community Blog – Post #1
Published: October 13, 2025 – International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

When you look at a world map, the Pacific Ocean is that huge blue space that seems almost empty. But between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, scattered across this ocean, are thousands of islands and millions of people whose lives are being changed every day by climate change.

Today, on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN is calling on governments to “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters” – a reminder that it’s cheaper (and far more humane) to prevent climate disasters than to just react after they strike.

This post is about those island communities in the Pacific – from Kiribati and Tuvalu to Fiji, Samoa, and the Marshall Islands – and why what happens to them in the middle of the ocean matters to all of us.

1. The Pacific Ocean: Our Planet’s Overworked “Cooling System”

Our planet’s oceans cover over 70% of Earth’s surface and quietly do most of the climate “heavy lifting”. Scientists estimate that around 90% of the excess heat from global warming is being absorbed by the ocean, not the air above us.

That extra heat drives a chain reaction:

• Rising sea levels as warmer water expands and land ice melts
• Stronger marine heatwaves that cook coral reefs and marine life
• More energy for storms and tropical cyclones

Global sea level has already risen about 21–24 cm (8–9 inches) since 1880, and it hit a new record high again in 2023.

For low-lying islands in the Pacific, even a few extra centimeters of sea level rise is not “a small change.” It’s the difference between dry land and flooded homes.

2. Pacific Islands Between the Tropics: Living Just Above the Waterline

Many Pacific Island countries—like Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands—sit only a couple of meters above sea level at their highest points. Saltwater is now regularly pushing over roads, into homes, and into freshwater wells during high tides and storms.

NASA researchers estimate that Pacific Island nations will see at least 15–20 cm of sea level rise in the next 30 years, no matter what happens with short‑term emissions.

That might sound tiny, but the impacts are huge:

• High‑tide flooding that used to happen a few times a year could start happening dozens of times per year in places like Tuvalu and Kiribati by the 2050s.
• Saltwater intrusion makes it harder to grow food and contaminates drinking water.
• Coastal erosion slowly eats away at land that has cultural, spiritual, and historical importance.

The World Meteorological Organization describes this as a “triple whammy” for Pacific Islands: accelerating sea level rise, warming waters, and ocean acidification that together threaten not only their economies, but their very existence.

3. Warmer Seas, Stronger Storms

The Pacific and nearby tropical oceans between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are also hotbeds of powerful storms. Warmer oceans supercharge these systems:

• A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, increasing extreme rainfall during tropical cyclones.
• Climate assessments find that the proportion of very intense tropical cyclones and their rainfall rates are likely to increase as the planet warms.

Recent years have seen clusters of intense cyclones swirling across the South Pacific, hammering countries like Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga with destructive winds, storm surge, and flooding.

These storms are not just “natural disasters.” They are climate‑charged disasters, fueled by oceans that humans have steadily warmed through burning fossil fuels.

4. Disaster Risk Isn’t “Natural” – It’s Political

The theme of this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction—“Fund Resilience, Not Disasters”—highlights a hard truth:

Disasters are what happen when hazards (like storms or sea level rise) collide with vulnerability and underinvestment.

Many Pacific Island countries did almost nothing to cause climate change. Their historical emissions are tiny compared with major industrialized nations. Yet they face:

• Limited resources for sea walls, early warning systems, and safe infrastructure
• Heavy dependence on climate‑sensitive sectors like fishing and tourism
• The possibility that entire communities may need to relocate if their land becomes uninhabitable

That’s why Pacific leaders often say, “We are not drowning, we are fighting.” They’re pushing for:

• Climate finance (including “loss and damage” funds) so they can adapt and protect their people
• Stronger global commitments to rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions
• Recognition of the human rights of people displaced by climate impacts

5. What Can We Do From Here?

It’s easy to feel far away from the Pacific if you’re sitting on a different continent. But oceans connect every coastline. What we do in one part of the world affects people everywhere—especially those living on the front lines.

Here are some concrete ways to act in solidarity with Pacific communities:

a) Learn and amplify Pacific voices

• Follow Pacific climate activists, writers, and organizations on social media.
• Share articles, podcasts, or videos produced by Pacific Islanders about their own experiences.

b) Support resilience, not just “disaster relief”

• When donating, look for organizations that focus on long‑term adaptation—things like climate‑resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and community‑led planning.
• If you’re in a position to vote or lobby, support policies that increase climate finance for vulnerable countries.

c) Cut emissions in your own life and community

We can’t talk about rising seas without talking about fossil fuels. Some ideas:

• Use public transit, walk, or bike more when possible.
• Reduce food waste and consider eating lower on the food chain a few days a week.
• Support local campaigns for renewable energy and against new fossil fuel expansion.

d) Bring the Pacific into your campus or local conversations

• Organize a film screening, panel, or event for next year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction or World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November).
• Collaborate with student clubs (environmental, social justice, global studies) to host a fundraiser or awareness campaign focused on a specific island community or NGO.

6. Questions to Reflect On

To close, here are a few questions I’m asking myself—and invite you to think about too:

1. If your home were only two meters above sea level, what would “climate change” mean to you?
2. Who should pay for the sea walls, early warning systems, and relocations that Pacific communities now need?
3. What is one concrete action you can take this month that connects your life to the fight for climate justice in the Pacific?

The Pacific Ocean might look like a big empty blue patch on the map, but it’s actually one of the most important places to watch if we want to understand the future of our planet. As oceans warm and seas rise, the choices we make—about energy, justice, and solidarity—will determine whether Pacific Island communities can not only survive, but thrive.