When Dr Nikelene Mclean returned to her home island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, she was shocked to see that many of the beaches she spent her childhood on were disappearing. “I saw firsthand the negative impacts of climate change,  there was evidence of sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, coral bleaching, and coastal degradation. I realised that more needed to be done, not only for the environment but for the communities that depend on it.”

Every nation will feel the impact of climate change, but “unfortunately, small island nations, or large ocean states, are on the frontline of climate change,” Mclean explains. “We contribute a negligible percentage to the overarching causes of climate change, but we bear the brunt of its impacts.”

“It’s really important for small island nations to develop coastal resilience and adaptation plans. We should also prioritise the implementation of policies and management strategies to protect our people and our resources,” says Mclean. Harnessing Earth observations is crucial for ensuring such policies and strategies are effective.

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Read the full story Using Earth Observations to help address challenges in small island nations at GEO Blue Planet

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