Vanuatu’s coral reefs have collapsed under the pressure of climate change and natural disasters — now the island is turning to the world’s highest court.
In the heart of the South Pacific, Vanuatu’s once-thriving coral reefs have become silent graveyards. Where staghorn coral once towered like underwater forests in Havannah Harbour, now only broken white rubble remains. For longtime diver John Warmington, the change has been devastating.
“It used to feel like visiting a friend,” he recalls. “Now, there’s almost nothing left.”
Years of back-to-back disasters have left a trail of destruction. After Cyclone Pam in 2015, silt from rivers buried coral beds. The destructive crown-of-thorns starfish swarmed the weakened reef, followed by more cyclones in 2023. Then in late 2024, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook the seabed, destroying what little life remained.
Now, with broken coral, collapsed habitats, and vanishing marine life, John says diving sometimes ends in tears.
But this is not just one diver’s story — it’s a national crisis.
Rising Seas and Sinking Lands
Since the early 1990s, sea levels around Vanuatu have risen by over 6mm per year — well above the global average. In some areas, seismic activity has accelerated this rate even further, swallowing coastlines and contaminating freshwater with salt intrusion.
Villages have already begun relocating homes and crops. On Pele Island, waves now wash up to the graves of ancestors. For many, the land cleared by their grandparents may soon be uninhabitable.
Vanuatu’s Climate Fight Reaches the ICJ
This week, Vanuatu is presenting its case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The country, supported by over 130 other nations, is seeking an advisory opinion: what are nations legally obligated to do about climate change — and what happens if they don’t?
While the opinion will not be legally enforceable, it could reshape global climate policy by laying the groundwork for holding major polluters accountable — a long-awaited goal for vulnerable island nations.
A Fight for Survival, Not Just Policy
Vanuatu’s appeal isn’t just legal — it’s emotional. Generations have lived on these islands, yet rising seas, more frequent storms, and degraded ecosystems threaten their future.
Other Pacific nations face similar realities:
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In Tuvalu, where the highest point is just 2 meters above sea level, over one-third of residents have already applied for climate migration to Australia.
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In Nauru, the government has begun selling passports to foreign nationals in hopes of raising funds for future relocations.
More Than Just Climate
Not all environmental damage can be blamed solely on global warming. According to Christina Shaw, CEO of the Vanuatu Environmental Science Society, local challenges such as deforestation, volcanic eruptions, pollution, and coastal development also play a role.
“Vanuatu’s environment is naturally fragile. But human impact is definitely a factor too,” she explains.
Seeds of Hope
Despite the devastation, the people of Vanuatu continue to hope — and rebuild. Back in Havannah Harbour, John and his wife Sandy are trying to revive their underwater home by planting coral fragments by hand.
“We’re not giving up,” he says. “This reef is part of our family. We’ll do everything we can to bring it back.”
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