By 
14-11-2025
Nabil Ruhaizat
Asia Team Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
Vicky Terupo, the Chairlady of the Tukuu Community Government in Bougainville’s Mortlock Atolls, describes life at the waterline with clarity. “Living on the atolls, we are on the frontline of climate change,” she says. Her account aligns with current evidence. Sea-level rise and storm flooding erode gardens, increase salt in freshwater, and disrupt fishing grounds. These effects increase food insecurity and expand women’s unpaid care work in remote atolls.
Terupo recently completed a workshop on climate risk, organised by the UNDP and the Climate Change Development Authority, for district and local-level planners. She now aims to convert the training into local plans that protect crops, drinking water, and transport during rough seas. Research shows that even modest sea-level rise can cause freshwater lenses on small islands to thin, allowing saltwater to infiltrate shallow wells. This process harms coconuts and staple crops unless water management practices are changed.
A credible resilience plan for far-flung atolls starts with water security. Communities can scale rainwater harvesting, protect shared tanks, and relocate wells away from zones that frequently experience wave overwash. Food systems also need attention. Raised-bed gardens, salt-tolerant varieties, and seed banks can accelerate recovery after extremely high tides. Access to safe water is the third pillar of sustainable development. Pre-positioned essentials and a clear transport protocol for high-sea conditions can prevent empty shelves when shipping halts.
Terupo’s approach is also a governance signal. Training alone does not deliver outcomes. Budgets, verification, and community buy-in determine whether plans are successful. By committing to bringing lessons home to the atolls, she reframes adaptation as a practical pathway with measurable steps. For households that watch the next very high tide approach, this shift from awareness to implementation can mean the difference between coping and crisis.
