The relentless power of the ocean has long threatened the villages of Pacific Island communities, and Lauli’i in Samoa is no exception. For years, the sea would surge into the village on Samoa’s most populated island, flooding homes and overwhelming aging offshore seawalls. Simeona Tapeneko recalls the devastation vividly: “Many things, including our homes, were severely damaged. The waves also destroyed the graves of our loved ones,” he said, highlighting the emotional toll of climate-induced disasters.
In response to this growing threat, many Pacific communities are constructing seawalls to defend against rising sea levels and violent storm surges. Ebeye, one of the most populated islands in the Marshall Islands, has recently fortified its coast with a rock wall shipped from Dubai, funded by the World Bank and the Green Climate Fund. Meanwhile, low-lying atolls in Tuvalu and other island nations such as Kiribati, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and Fiji are also building or upgrading seawalls, often with support from the Australian government and international aid organizations.
In Lauli’i, after six months of construction, the community celebrated the completion of a new seawall in May. Funded by the New Zealand government at a cost of $1.9 million, the barrier aims to shield homes from increasingly severe storm surges and sea flooding. “When the last rock was laid, we all breathed a sigh of relief,” Tapeneko shared, hopeful that this structure will provide lasting protection for his community.
As climate change drives sea levels higher and makes storm patterns more intense, these seawalls stand as vital defenses for vulnerable island populations. They exemplify the urgent need for adaptation and resilience strategies to safeguard communities and preserve their way of life amidst a changing ocean.
+ There are no comments
Add yours