The Marshall Islands: Climate Change and Inaction

George P Thomas

In this video, Evan talks about the Marshall Islands, a country that is likely to be swallowed by the sea due to rising sea level.

He argues that the country is not taking any actions to mitigate climate change and criticizes the Marshallese people for their lack of care about the environment.

Evan points out several examples to support his argument. Firstly, he mentions that despite having a very limited road system, almost everyone in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands, owns a car. This has led to traffic congestion and air pollution. Secondly, he talks about the donation of a bus system to Majuro by the Japanese government in 2002. However, the buses are not being used and are currently rotting away. Thirdly, Evan mentions that the Marshallese government has installed electric vehicle chargers but they are not being used because the electricity in Majuro is generated by burning diesel. Finally, he criticizes the college for having six school buses that are only used for one hour a day and are parked for the rest of the day, while there is no public bus system available.

Evan acknowledges that there are reasons why people in Majuro might prefer to drive their own cars, such as the hot weather and the limited job opportunities. However, he believes that these problems are not insurmountable and that the Marshallese people could solve them if they had the will to do so. He concludes the video by saying that everyone has a role to play in addressing climate change and that we should all be doing our part, even if it is just in a small way.