Marshall Islands—Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner

Just like other atoll nations in the Pacific that suffer from climate change, the Marshall Islands are not an exception. A study conducted by the World Bank predicts that 96 percent of Majuro, the Marshall Islands’ capital, is at risk of frequent flooding induced by climate change. It has also been projected that by 2035, some of the Marshall Islands will be submerged. And others will no longer have drinking water due to saltwater contamination, which results in forced migration. 

Jo-Jikum is a nonprofit organization that supports the next generation of Marshallese people to navigate and develop solutions for their islands impacted by pollution, climate change, and nuclear legacies. Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner is a climate envoy for the Marshall Islands and Jo-Jikum’s co-founder and director. She is also a poet and performance artist from the Marshall Islands. You can find some of her works here.