Pacific Rising

The Leaders

The communities that contribute the least to climate change are most directly impacted by its effects. Climate justice workers in the Pacific have been sounding the alarm about environmental crises for years, but they’re also leading innovative, locally led solutions.

UUSC supported grassroots partners in establishing Pacific Rising, an annual network gathering that brings together climate justice organizations from the region to build power, share strategies, and advance community-led solutions. Pacific Rising focuses on their efforts on Non-Economic Loss and Damage, fighting to preserve cultural knowledge, traditional wisdom, and community practices amid land loss and climate change.

The Funders

With support from the Climate Justice Resilience Fund and the Scottish government, UUSC has allocated $1,154,210.00 over three years, with partners collectively deciding to share funding equally among organizations.

Pacific Rising aims to become an independent body. They’re seeking funding to continue and grow their work.

Our Pacific partners

The Projects

The following are just a few examples of Pacific Rising projects:

• Jo-Jikum works to preserve Marshallese ancestral intelligence. The organization creates storytelling kiosks to preserve sacred sites that are threatened by climate change. The kiosks include art designed by Marshallese youth and bring oral traditions, legends, and Indigenous ecological knowledge into public spaces.
• Climate Talk Fiji recently published their groundbreaking report, “Climate Change and Human Mobility: Gender Dimensions and NELD.” The report uses data to further assert that the climate crisis has a disproportionate impact on women and gender expansive people. This critical work will guide the efforts of Pacific Island organizations, ensuring that environmental justice efforts incorporate gender equity.
• Tulele Peisa continues to lead the dignified relocation effort on the Carterets Islands, facilitating the relocation of 150 families (1,700 islanders) to safe and secure locations on mainland Bougainville. In addition, the organization works to revive and preserve cultural practices. Their youth education initiative teaches young people traditional skills, crafts, and rituals, fostering reverence through hands-on learning.

These are just a few examples of Pacific Rising’s dynamic project portfolio. Read about more in our 2-pager.

The Methodology

Indigenous Sovereignty is a Climate Solution

The world’s directly-affected Indigenous communities—including in the Pacific—must be the ones to decide for themselves how to allocate resources to address the climate crisis. Amplifying their voices and ability to wield decision-making power helps the entire globe weather this crisis, because they are the ones with the traditional knowledge and skills to address it.

Participatory Grantmaking and Decision Making is Essential for Progress and Human Dignity

Directly affected communities are best positioned to advance solutions. They have the most at stake and have the most insight into the challenges they face. Intended beneficiaries of funds should be the ones to decide how it’s spent. The communities most immediately impacted by environmental policies should be prioritized and meaningfully included in the legislative process.

All Justice Movements are Connected

The burden of climate damage falls inequitably on women, LGBTQI+ folks, elders, youth, and people living with disabilities. We cannot meaningfully work toward climate justice without also incorporating the tenets of all other human rights movements.