ClimateWatch Vanuatu: building community resilience
ClimateWatch, an initiative of Earthwatch Australia, is the first mobile app in Vanuatu’s Bislama language to be pioneering citizen science in the Pacific Islands region. It empowers citizen scientists, enabling anyone in Vanuatu to collect observational data on culturally significant species to strengthen disaster preparedness and locally relevant adaptation
For generations, Traditional Knowledge about plants, animals and climate patterns has allowed communities in Vanuatu to plan and prepare for local conditions. However, urbanisation has significantly decreased the intergenerational transfer of Traditional Knowledge and the impacts of climate change on these species are unknown.
“Traditional Knowledge plays a central role in community resilience in the Pacific islands,” said Mr. Sunny Kamuta Seuseu, Climate Information Services Officer, SPREP. “For future generations to continue to employ Traditional Knowledge in managing current and future climate risks, it is essential to record Traditional Knowledge.”
Earthwatch Australia has partnered with local partners to deliver lasting impacts for ni-Vanuatu community members:
200+ Registered users
800+ Data points collected across all provinces of Vanuatu
ClimateWatch lesson plans embedded in Vanuatu Traditional Knowledge school curriculum
ClimateWatch data utilised for seasonal forecasting
Scaling across the Pacific
Other Pacific nations are now looking to adopt ClimateWatch. Earthwatch and partners are seeking funding and implementation partners to scale this approach and strengthen community-led climate resilience across the region.