‘Push forward, maintain momentum:’ Response to climate change requires an integrated approach

Microwaves By Jack Niedenthal

 This is the continuation of my conversation with Marshallese poet-activist Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner

Pacific Island Times: The fact that you are bringing the issue of climate change to court helps keep it in the public discourse, which is a crucial strategic move. I recall when the late Tony DeBrum took the nuclear issues of the Marshall Islands to the International Court of Justice. Although the case itself had little chance of success, it brought global attention to the Marshall Islands’ nuclear history and the unresolved issues it raised, making headlines across the Internet. This widespread discussion alone was significant.

Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner: Yes, it's the same with climate change, except that the climate change realm includes the Conference of the Parties and the negotiations held there. The intersections of these two huge issues that face us as a nation are clear.

PIT: A recent article by the Climate Action Network International highlighted a concerning reality: “As the official deadline passes for countries to submit their revised Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, only 13 out of 195 parties have complied. Even more alarming, only five of these are developed nations, despite their obligation to lead the way on climate action.” What specific policy changes or forms of international support do you believe are essential for our country and region to effectively combat climate change?

Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner

KJK: The Marshall Islands actually submitted our Nationally Determined Contributions on the February deadline, and our purpose with the new NDC was to show a more holistic picture of the challenges we’ve faced in implementing NDCs and what are our successes so far. One of the main challenges to implementation is funding for our Energy Roadmap Plan.

At the end of the day though, we made sure to submit our NDCs despite our contributions to emissions being negligible at 0.0005 percent of the world’s global emissions to lead by example. We believe that countries must significantly increase their ambition in their NDCs. They need to resubmit their NDCs with stronger commitments, aiming for a complete transition away from fossil fuels and a shift to 100 percent renewable energy. This is the first and most critical step in lowering global temperatures.

However, climate impacts will continue regardless. To address this, we must first secure financing for adaptation to protect ourselves. Additionally, there must be funding and a structured system in place to address the loss and damage to land that adaptation alone cannot prevent. This is a threefold approach. Too often, climate change is framed as a singular issue—reducing fossil fuel emissions—which, of course, is the most important part of the problem. But our response needs to integrate all these steps.

PIT: About a decade ago, you founded the highly successful NGO, Jo-Jikum. Can you share more about its mission, impact and the role it plays in empowering youth and communities to take action on climate change?

KJK: After college, I co-founded Jo-Jikum alongside some of my cousins. We established the NGO as a platform to directly engage youth on climate change issues. Initially, Jo-Jikum aimed to address a broad range of environmental issues, but as my focus shifted toward climate change, the organization naturally followed that direction.

Over time, we developed programs such as climate and health arts camps, climate change workshops, storytelling initiatives, poetry workshops and art installations highlighting our legacy of nuclear testing. They were also deeply involved in the development of our National Adaptation Plan, in working with the International Organization for Migration on community consultations, where they collected perspectives from other youth in other islands on their views on climate change.

PIT: What message would you like to convey to high-emission countries that may not yet fully grasp the urgency of the climate crisis?

KJK: The climate change world tries its best to prepare strategies for various political scenarios. For example, when Donald Trump won, we had strategies in place for this. We saw during his previous presidency that, while he withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, no other country followed suit—which was significant.

However, it would be unrealistic to ignore the fact that these political changes will have a substantial impact on our movement and progress. The effects are real and far-reaching. Yet, we are also witnessing influential figures, such as Michael Bloomberg, stepping in to fill critical gaps. He covered the U.S.’s financial commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, preventing what would have been a major loss. And that’s a big deal.

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Ultimately, our responsibility remains the same: to push forward, maintain momentum, and continue holding nations accountable—especially those still committed to the Paris treaty.

PIT: For me, the issue of climate change comes down to a battle between greed and hope. I have grandchildren and you have a daughter—this is why we fight against climate change. Ultimately, it’s about preserving hope for their futures. On the other side, there are those who refuse to acknowledge climate change, often labeled as “climate change deniers.” How do we counter that kind of thinking?

KJK: That attitude is just tremendously troubling. I've gotten to the place now where I don't necessarily like to try to convince people it's real. You either acknowledge that it’s real and we move forward with a discussion on the best course of action, or you don’t. I don’t engage in conversations with those who deny climate change. They are not part of the work being done to address it.

The most effective paths to success will be through legal and economic avenues, ensuring that people recognize the financial risks of ignoring this crisis. More countries and corporations are acknowledging climate change as a serious issue and are divesting from fossil fuels because they see that, in the long run, it is not a sound investment. Consumer behavior also plays a key role in shaping markets, and an increasing number of consumers are prioritizing businesses that commit to environmentally and economically sustainable practices.

PIT: With age and a better understanding of human nature, I suspect that for climate change ignorers, the reality will only hit when they find themselves stranded on their rooftops, surrounded by rising waters. Even so, do you believe it’s still worth trying—hoping that, at some point, a light bulb might go off in their minds?

KJK: I just think you've got to keep trying. That's why we invested so much time in youth work. You give them some space to process these issues because I think sometimes people are so afraid they respond by not wanting to confront that fear, and they'd rather not take the issue head-on. 

Jack Niedenthal is the former secretary of Health Services for the Marshall Islands, where he has lived and worked for 43 years. He is the author of “For the Good of Mankind, An Oral History of the People of Bikini,” and president of Microwave Films, which has produced six award-winning feature films in the Marshallese language. Send feedback to jackniedenthal@gmail.com

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