This talk is about climate change, and the beautiful white sandy beaches, coconut palm trees and brilliant blue ocean surfs of the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean contributes majorly in regulating the earth’s temperature driving global weather patterns and provides half the world’s oxygen. In contrasting reality, nuclear testing programs, deforestation and mining has devasted the natural setting of the Pacific Ocean. Now climate change has become the most significant threat for the ocean. Economic value and strategic interests in the region coupled with politics, are the reasons for these ongoing destruction.

Katerina Teaiawa shares the idea of how we can move towards a cleaner and fairer future. Katerina was born and raised in Fiji and is of Banaban, I-Kiribati (Tabiteueuan), and African American descent. She was founder and convener of the Pacific Studies teaching program at ANU, founder of the ANU Pasifika outreach program, and co-founder and co-chair of the ANU Family Friendly Committee. She is now Associate Professor and Deputy Director Higher Degree Research Training in the School of Culture, History and Language, and Chair of the Oceania Working Party of the Australian Dictionary of Biography. Katerina contributes to public discussion on Pacific regional, cultural and environmental issues including climate change; her writing has been published in the Conversation, Sydney Morning Herald, the Guardian, ABC Drum, Foreign Affairs and Australian Outlook. She has been a consultant with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, UNESCO and DFAT on cultural policy, gender and sustainable development, and Austraining International. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx