This International Women’s Day, themed: “Invest in women: accelerate progress,” Lilian Falealuga Tine, an outspoken advocate for the rights of women in Tuvalu, spoke about the role of the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP) in empowering women in the long-term. While the core element of the infrastructure-building project is to reclaim and raise land from the sea, protecting the community from sea level-rise – a critical component of the project has been about supporting women to speak up at the governing board and community levels.

Engaging in community-based adaptation projects, Teresa Lifuka-Drecala collaborates with other residents and organizations to implement sustainable practices aimed at fortifying coastal defenses, preserving natural habitats, and promoting renewable energy initiatives. This is her story.

Motivated by a deep interest in the need for local law reforms to better reflect traditional environmental knowledge, 32-year-old Lisepa Paeniu has a passion for climate justice. “I think the best way to improve women’s participation in politics, whether local or national, is through empowering other women,” she said. In September 2022, Lisepa pursued a master's degree in environmental law at Sydney’s University of New South Wales. Today, she is choosing from among three doctoral scholarships between Australia and New Zealand. This is her story.