Climate Change in Samoa: Rising Tides, Resilient Voices

As the sun rises over the Pacific, Samoa continues to face one of the defining challenges of our time: climate change. Though small in land mass, the country sits on the frontline, dealing with rising sea levels, more damaging coastal flooding, cyclones, and the steady loss of shoreline in some communities.

In villages such as Moata‘a, Falealupo, and Salamumu, residents have watched the sea edge closer. Families have shifted homes inland, sea walls have gone up along exposed coasts, and mangrove restoration projects have taken root with the support of village councils, women’s committees, and regional partners.

Climate change in Samoa: At a glance

• Sea level at Apia has risen about 31 cm since 1993, and another 23 cm is projected by 2050 across scenarios.

• In the western tropical Pacific, sea level is rising faster than the global average.

• Community action is growing: Moata‘a launched a mangrove restoration project in 2021 with village groups and partners involved.

• “We are not drowning, we are fighting,” Samoan climate advocate Brianna Fruean told world leaders at COP26.

  
  

National data show sea levels in Samoa’s region have risen faster than the global average since the 1990s. That trend, combined with warmer oceans, increases the risk of more intense tropical cyclones and heavier rainfall when storms form. The Samoa Meteorology Division and partner agencies continue to track these patterns and issue warnings.

The Government of Samoa’s Climate Change Policy 2020 to 2030 sets the overall direction for adaptation and mitigation. Earlier work under the National Adaptation Programme of Action identified urgent priorities, and today the Community Integrated Management (CIM) Plans guide practical, village-level measures across infrastructure, ecosystems, livelihoods, and governance. These plans formalise what many families already practice: protecting coastlines, managing water, and planning safer sites for homes and services.

Local leadership remains central. Village adaptation plans are led by traditional councils (fono) with support from national ministries and international partners, ensuring local voices shape what gets built and where. Women and youth groups have been visible in outreach, using education, storytelling, and activism to keep both risks and solutions front of mind.

Samoan climate advocate Brianna Fruean amplified that message on the world stage at COP26, reminding leaders, “we are not drowning, we are fighting.” It is a line that captures the spirit communities are showing at home: practical work, cultural pride, and a determination to protect both land and life for the next generation.

References

• Samoa Climate Change Policy 2020 to 2030

• National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA, 2005)

• Community Integrated Management (CIM) Plans (MNRE)

• Samoa Meteorology Division reports and advisories

• SPREP and UN partners’ programme materials

• Public speeches and media statements by Brianna Fruean