Vanautu is a country consisting of over 80 islands in the Malenesia region of Oceania. From rising temperatures to rising sea levels and resulting storm surges, Vanuatu faces the effects of a radically shifting climate, like its neighbors in the pacific region. The Department of Climate Change in Vanuatu has estimated that by 2030, temperatures will increase in Vanuatu by up to 1° Celsius (33.8° Fahrenheit) per year. Extreme rainfall events are predicted to grow in frequency and intensity, increasing the resulting damages spurred by cyclones, storm surges, landslides, flooding and droughts, while tropical cyclones are projected to be less frequent but will be more intense in future. (Department of Climate Change, Government of Vanuatu) 

From 1993-2022, the Climate Risk Index ranked Vanuatu as 9th in terms of countries most affected by climate change. The existing vulnerabilities faced by women in the region also intersect with disaster risk, making women more susceptible during and after natural hazards. For countries like Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Fiji, Tropical Cyclone Harold in 2020 resulted in the majority of women employed in the tourism industry and agriculture sector losing their jobs (UNESCAP Pathways to Adaptation and Resilience in Pacific SIDS). This ranking is also is owed to Vanuatu’s high number of relative economic losses, affected people, and relative fatalities. (Climate Risk Index) Being an island nation, the country has endured repeated cyclones that have been projected to worsen even more due to climate change.