Comoros: The tiny islands spearheading the fight against climate change
By Austin Bodetti
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"GCF is working with the Comorian government in two ways: first, through 'readiness support,' which will help the government build capacity to better understand and plan responses to the climate change threats and be able to access funding from GCF and other sources," said [Simon Wilson, head of communications at the Green Climate Fund].
"Secondly, GCF is funding the project 'Ensuring Climate-Resilient Water Supplies in the Comoro Islands,' which will directly help nearly half a million people manage water supply and strengthen water infrastructure."
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This international solidarity belies the Comoros' history of domestic turmoil. Despite the grim prospect of simultaneous ecological and humanitarian crises, Comorians are struggling to unite in the face of political violence that has long divided the country. In July 2018, gunmen tried to assassinate Comorian Vice President Moustadroine Abdou, whose far-reaching portfolio includes energy policy.
"The political instability of the Comoros has made it difficult for any government to tackle the issue of deforestation and environmental degradation," said Dr Malyn Newitt, a professor emeritus of history at King's College London and author of The Comoro Islands: Struggle against Dependency in the Indian Ocean.
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