As our boat approached the shores of Emao Island, the crystalline waters of the South Pacific lapping gently against its hull, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and concern. This small land in the vast ocean was our window into the real-world impacts of climate change – a phenomenon often discussed in abstract terms in air-conditioned conference rooms (and I have been one of those inside those rooms) but lived daily by communities on the frontlines.
Emao Island, Vanuatu (Image: Hemant Ojha)
A Warm Welcome, A Stark Reality
The Emao islanders welcomed us with their smiles as bright as the tropical sun overhead. As we walked through the village, guided by local leaders and accompanied by representatives from the national government, the signs of an ongoing struggle unleashed in front of our eyes.
Erosion along the coast and damaged crops revealed the impact of rising sea levels and unpredictable weather patterns. The community was evidently fighting to preserve its traditions and way of life and struggling for its survival.
“We will lose our village if we don’t get support to create an embankment,” an Emao village elder told us, pointing to the damages caused by the twin cyclones in the last couple of years.
Innovation Born of Necessity
The most striking aspect of my visit to Emao Island was not the devastation, though its impact was undeniable, but the resilience and ingenuity of its residents. The local farmers, their hands calloused from years of working the land, proudly showed us their adaptive agricultural techniques and risk resilient practices.
They are in constant process of experimentation of cropping patterns to cope with new fungus and beetle attacks on their preferred crops. The village chief mentioned that he instructed everyone in the village to move up to the mountain when there was a warning for cyclone. With some help from others, villagers have developed a very reliable drinking water system by harvesting rainwater. Men can do hundreds of meters of deep dive into the ocean to find fish. Local Church creates a forum to share wisdom, knowledge and gain spiritual power to cope with all natural calamities.
The sense of community I witnessed was not just a cultural artifact; it was a living, breathing force of resilience and hope. In the face of overwhelming challenges, the people of Emao have come together, supporting one another, sharing knowledge, and working collectively towards solutions.
IFSD team exploring the innovative agricultural practices of Vanuatu (Image: Hemant Ojha)
Women and Youth: The Beating Heart of Resilience
The women of Emao Island left a lasting impression on me. Gathered under the shade of a large tree, they showed us delicately woven handicrafts – baskets and mats woven from local materials, mainly Pandanus. These items, I learned, were not just a link to their cultural heritage but a vital source of income in an increasingly unpredictable environment with clear demands in the city of Port Vila.
It was so inspiring to see women as custodians of traditional knowledge supporting such a tangible economic activity for their household livelihoods. An elderly woman shared how they are reviving ancient weather prediction techniques and blending them with modern forecasting to better prepare for storms. Unfortunately, the future of Pandanus-based livelihoods is at risk as new fungi and pests are attacking the plants and leaves used for serving.
IFSD GEDSI specialist with women group of Emao (Image: Hemant Ojha)
The Gap Between Resilience and Resources
As our visit ended, I found myself grappling with conflicting emotions. The resilience of the Emao islanders was nothing short of inspirational. Their ability to adapt to and find solutions in the face of overwhelming challenges spoke volumes about human agency for resilience.
Yet, I couldn’t shake a sense of unease. The challenges they face—from infrastructure needs to the potential necessity of relocation—are immense. “We need support in embankments as well as building roads and part infrastructure,” said a village chief from a neighbouring village. While national efforts to address these issues are commendable, it’s clear that the scale of the climate crisis demands a global response.
Bridging Local Action and Global Discourse
Reflecting on the conversations with my STRENGTH project colleagues and the representatives from the Department of Climate Change Vanuatu, I was impressed by their earnest efforts to bridge the gap between grassroots action and high-level policy discussions. Their work exemplifies how local experiences can and should inform national strategies and global climate dialogues. I commend their efforts to push the global dialogue beyond adaptation and conventional humanitarian assistance. As the champions of global Loss and Damage policy response, Vanuatu’s climate action community clearly shows that small island states need financing to restore climate losses and damages, consequences unrelated to the act of ni-Vanuatu people.
I returned from the trip to Vanuatu with greater confidence that the Vanuatu STRENGTH team will be able to use the Emao as a learning and action site for tackling climate loss and damage. Their approach—rooted in community engagement yet reaching towards international cooperation—offers a model for effective climate resilience work.
A Call to Action
As I boarded the boat back to the main Efate Island, I realised that my experience on Emao Island was more than just a field visit. It was a call to action.
As highlighted above, the people of Emao are not helpless victims of climate change, they are innovators, problem-solvers, and custodians of a way of life that deserves to be preserved. But they cannot – and should not – face this global crisis alone.
The Emao community lives on their own power of community and human ingenuity. But the emerging risk dynamics has also underscored the urgent need for greater support, resources, and global cooperation in addressing climate loss and damage, beyond adaptation and humanitarian responses.
There is a role for all kinds of actors – creators and brokers of knowledge as well as advocates of community voices. The future of Emao Island – and countless communities like it – depends on all of us.
This spirit of community extends beyond the shores of Emao, encompassing the dedicated professionals from the STRENGTH project and the Department of Climate Change Vanuatu. Their commitment to bridging local realities with national and global efforts is a testament to the power of collaborative action.
The sense of community – local, national, and global – that offers perhaps the strongest ray of hope. As we face the monumental challenge of climate change, it’s clear that our greatest strength lies in our ability to come together, to learn from one another, and to work collectively towards a more resilient future.
Despite all these strengths and sources of resilience, Emao Island is at existential risk of a climate crisis. It would be unfair to leave them alone to live on their own community-scale sources of resilience. It is now time to actualise climate justice to mobilise all sorts of support and solidarity so their future is secured. And this requires bold action and vision beyond incremental adaptation or the mercy of humanitarian support to disaster. The new Loss and Damage financing could be a ray of hope for communities in the Emao Island as well as across the South Pacific.
Acknowledgement
I want to express my profound appreciation to my colleagues from the STRENGTH project and the Department of Climate Change Vanuatu. Their presence and insights enriched this journey. Throughout our trip – during lunch breaks, bus rides, and boat journeys – our conversations flowed freely, providing me with a deeper understanding of the climate challenges Vanuatu is facing.
