On the southern shores of Papua New Guinea’s Gulf province, a slow-moving disaster is unfolding. Rising sea levels are steadily swallowing coastal villages, forcing tens of thousands of residents to abandon their ancestral lands and relocate to higher ground. Local officials are sounding the alarm about a mounting humanitarian crisis, but say not enough is being done to support the communities most impacted by climate change.
Tides of Change
For generations, the people of Gulf province have lived off the bounty of the sea. Fishing villages dot the coastline, their residents intimately attuned to the tides and currents. But in recent years, fishermen like Siri James have noticed worrying changes in the ocean’s rhythms.
The tides seem to be growing every day. I heard them say it’s global warming. I left school and ran away to go fishing, so now I don’t know what’s global warming, but the rains don’t come when it’s supposed to, the winds have changed.
– Siri James, fisherman from Gulf province
Two years ago, James was forced to move his family inland from their village near Pariva beach as the encroaching tides made it impossible to continue living by the shore. He is one of an estimated 40,000 people in Gulf province—nearly half the local population—who have been displaced by rising seas and coastal erosion over the past decade, according to a local councillor.
Washed Away
As well as fishing, many in Gulf province earn a living from coconut and betel nut farming. But the shifting tides and changing weather patterns are making it harder to cultivate crops or fish in the ocean. Kerry Anne Henry, who lives in a village of about 500 people near Pariva beach, says residents have begun relocating to escape the threat of rising seas.
Some people have land inland, on top of the mountains, and have started moving there. Those who have no land elsewhere are just stranded at the coast, watching as the sand is slowly eroding and the tides come in. Our coconuts and betel nut are being washed away by the sea.
– Kerry Anne Henry, villager near Pariva beach
The rising tides are even beginning to lap at the edges of critical infrastructure like Kerema airport. Recently, the sea washed away part of the airport’s back fence, a stark reminder of the vulnerability of coastal communities.
“Nothing is Being Done”
Despite the scale of the displacement, local residents and activists say the response from authorities has been inadequate. While the national government has expressed concern and says it is working on “resilience-building measures,” on the ground there is a palpable sense that not enough concrete action is being taken.
The authorities have turned a blind eye to the situation, and nothing is being done yet.
– Kerry Anne Henry, villager near Pariva beach
Leading Papua New Guinea climate activist Duncan Gabi describes the situation as a “humanitarian crisis” and says the government should have prioritized climate adaptation and disaster preparedness long ago. He also warns that controversial proposals for sand mining in the region could exacerbate the problems faced by coastal communities.
An Uncertain Future
For the tens of thousands who have already been forced to relocate, and the many more likely to be displaced in the coming years, the future is deeply uncertain. Most lack the resources to move far from the coast, and land ownership issues complicate efforts to resettle communities. As Kerry Anne Henry notes, “those who have no land elsewhere are just stranded at the coast,” watching helplessly as their homes and livelihoods are swallowed by the sea.
The story unfolding in Gulf province is a stark illustration of the unequal impacts of climate change. Despite contributing minimally to the emissions driving global warming, it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations that are already bearing the brunt of rising seas and supercharged storms.
Papua New Guinea is far from alone in facing these challenges—from the low-lying atolls of the Pacific to the densely populated deltas of Asia, sea level rise is unleashing waves of displacement that could become one of the defining stories of the century. Responding to this growing crisis will require an unprecedented mobilization of resources and political will. But as the people of Gulf province can attest, the cost of inaction is already far too high.
