Lifestyle changes and climate resilience in the Marshall Islands- Involving youth through art

The impact of climate change on human health is evident in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with waves of new diseases and outbreaks raising alarms in the atoll nation. To foster knowledge and awareness on climate change and health with youths, a Climate Change and Health Arts Seminar, co-funded by the EU-GCCA+ Scaling Up Pacific Adaptation project, was conducted in Majuro from 20th – 31st July 2020.

The seminar brought in a total of 39 youths from different schools in RMI and Micronesia and with the help of local professional artists, including poet and climate envoy for RMI Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, innovatively used arts to engage the group. At the end of the seminar, the youths’ messages on the issues relating to climate change and health were conveyed through songs, poems, paintings and weavings which will all be recorded, reprinted and displayed across RMI.

“It is important to engage the youth population (in climate change and health) as strategies must be on going and they will need to take over and continue contemporary strategies” Mr Jack Niedenthal, Secretary for Health, RMI (July,2020).

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