[ Pascal Movement ] A CHORAL HARMONY with THE PACIFIC ISLANDS by Zhang Chenxi

A CHORAL HARMONY WITH THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

To most individuals, climate change is a mere string of statistics – yes, everyone seems to know that 20% of the Amazon rainforest has vanished given the rapiddeforestation. It may even occasionally break the hegemony politics hold on the headlines of news articles, on the rare occasion that some massive heatwave sweeps areas in the world to cause devastating impacts, or countries decide to make yet another pledge to curb carbon emissions. While it is repeatedly cited as one of the greatest issues the world has to face as a resounding ‘code red’, most people are still largely apathetic to the issue, doing very little in their daily lives to alleviate the dire state of our planet[1]. After all, if the effects of climate change are liminal to these people, how should they feel a sense of urgency and what can catalyze change in them?

What if I tell you, somewhere more peripheral on the World Map, that climate change has already sunk many undocumented islands in the Pacific Region? Most people probably only associate these islands with idyllic images you associate with these islands: azure blue waters that stretch boundlessly, Pacific Gulls loafing about, or arching palm trees littering the shoreline which contribute to a flowing tapestry of a paradise for repose. Yet, they know very little about Cyclone Winston which has robbed the homes of more than 340000 people and washed away the delicate infrastructure in these small islands in an instant [2]. They also know very little about the unprecedented rising of sea levels of about 25cm to 58cm which threaten the very bedrock of existence for these low-lying islands [3]. Many small nations like Tuvalu are projected to vanish completely by the end of the century. To aggravate the situation, these small island states have to bear the brunt of climate change impacts despite only being responsible for 0.03% of global greenhouse gas emissions, whilst the rest of the world watches on with apathy.

This poses a cynical question: Why should it matter if these small islands vanish off the face of Earth? The region only comes into the news when the US and China decide to utilize the region for their political wars, and have little leverage compared to other states. Indeed, the Pacific island states are considered developing compared to the rest of the world, with a nominal GDP averaging around the high hundreds. Many of these island states do not even have a developed education system, with secondary and tertiary education being optional. The tragic irony lies in the fact that certain Pacific nations, like Fiji, attract significant amounts of tourists from all around the world due to their pearl-white sandy beaches and picturesque islands making it ideal for a quick getaway[4]. Beyond the superficial aesthetic, these tourists care very little about helping vulnerable nation-states combat environmental challenges despite going there for short-term vacations.

Beyond learning about the role of Pacific nations concerning the rest of the world, it is essential to emphasize how much their populations are reliant on their immediate environment for sustenance and livelihoods. In most of the Pacific Islands, primary sectors remain a backbone for these economies, being a major source of jobs and contributing 15% to 30% of the GDP. Yet, the agricultural and fishery sectors that make up a huge part of these islands’ economies are often subject to the whims of natural disasters and climate change, causing major fluctuations in the yield and posing a threat to the infrastructures as well[5].

While the region itself is culturally rich, with over 1750 unique languages despite its small population size, many of these islanders have no chance but to migrate to their neighboring countries like New Zealand or the US. Compelled by their immediate circumstances to abandon their roots and part with their homelands, the rich cultural diversity of these islands stands to be lost as they get assimilated into foreign territories. For instance, the indigenous religion of Samoan which preserves the sanctity of childbirth holds that the umbilical cord of the baby ought to be buried to reflect the intimacy of Samoans with nature, such that even a part of them lies within the realms of nature[6][7]. Most of these Pacific Islanders have their indigenous roots as an intrinsic part of their identity, therefore seeing their land as not only a source of resources but a source of connection with their ancestors who walk the same ground[8]. To preserve the sanctified ecology, many choose to stay and continue fighting on the frontlines against climate change. Their stories are often unheard, amidst the dampening, rough, cold-hearted statistics that disfigure the paradise they claim as home.

Kylamarie Rodriquez from Samoa defies the odds in her family as the first to pursue higher education in Environmental Management at the University of South Pacific [9]. Her motivation to study this degree stems from her firsthand interaction with climate change on her small island, which was subsequently wrecked by Cyclone Evan and Cyclone Gary in the past decade. These traumatic events have shaken up her hometown and caused major disruption to facilities like the airport and power supply systems. She wanted to find tangible solutions to stop the shower of dust and debris in the wake of these disasters, which prompted her to understand her environment more deeply and learn how to allocate the natural resources to protect her home more efficiently. To Rodriguez, she takes on the role of being a pioneer of her generation in addressing climate change issues and is a symbol of hope for many Samoans.

For Ms. Hela Tauhehe Teao, her journey to tertiary education is marred by many tribulations which nearly caused her to give up on her dreams. Yet, these pose only mere obstacles in her epic poem as she manages to complete her degree in Agricultural Science. Amidst the tumultuous times of COVID-19, she is forced to return to Tokelau, a resource-scared territory in New Zealand. This inhibited her access to quality academic resources, effectively hindering her successful graduation in 2021. Despite her humble upbringing, her family relentlessly encourages her to continue pursuing her education, and her eventual success is a testament to her unyielding spirit. As she continues to strive for greater heights in terms of education, she hopes that her story can be a source of encouragement to other young students in the Pacific: that their potential cannot be limited by their environments and circumstances.

The stories of these young Pacific Islanders emerge in solidarity amidst the treacherous battles they wage against climate change. This wave of adversaries has ignited a spark of determination, a flame, and a surging fire burning in their spirits to drive these young minds to tackle environmental challenges head-on. With their pursuit of higher education, they aspire to tackle climate change impacts with innovative and novel solutions with a more holistic understanding of their enemy.

But there is still hope. In certain Pacific Island communities, the leaders turn to ecosystem-based adaption to combine biodiversity and ecosystem services to conserve and restore the environment against adverse climate change impacts. In Oneisomw, an island located in Micronesia, these communities have their water security threatened by the flooding of salt water, hence the proposed solution is to repurpose water wells so the impacts of flooding can be less pronounced [10]. Similar measures are executed to improve the adaptability of crops to climate change, such as growing crops that are better adapted to changes in Vanuatu. With more advanced technologies and the advent of genetically modified crops, a greater variety of crops can be cultivated in various regions to improve food security, as well as reduce the vulnerability of the agricultural sector in these states [11]. There remains much to be done to inform the Pacific Island communities themselves about the woes of climate change, though more young leaders like Ms. Rodriquez and Ms. Teao are stepping forth, using their knowledge to come up with solutions against climate change.

So again, when your cool eyes scan the news regarding forest fires, cyclones, or heatwaves, please do not think of these as divorced from your reality. Remember with every plastic bag used, every light switch not turned off, or a drop of water wasted can destroy the lives of a Pacific Islander, whose very home is wrecked by an unknowing action of an individual mile away. Remember the Pacific Islanders, who above all of them share a symbiotic and emotional attachment to their homes, and how cruel it will be to tear them away from them. Remember their unique stories, practices, and traditions, and how these ought to be carried on for eons to contribute to the mural of mankind. It would be utterly negligent and irresponsible to merely sit by and let these tragedies take place right under our eyelids. Even if climate change does not affect us by geographical proximity, we ought to join the battle against climate change if it does not require much of our resources.

Let us collaborate with the Pacific Islanders and amplify their voices through our numerous loudspeakers. Let us pool together our collective knowledge to develop novel, innovative solutions for them. Let us answer our responsibilities as common inhabitants of Mother Earth, for this is what makes us human.

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