From the low-lying islands of Maldives to drought-prone regions in Kenya, governments and communities are deploying urgent, often unconventional strategies to cope with accelerating environmental change even as global emissions continue to rise.

“We are not just adapting anymore. We are relocating, redesigning, and in some cases, retreating,” said a senior climate official in the Maldives, where rising sea levels threaten to submerge nearly 80% of the country’s landmass by the end of the century.

In coastal villages across Southeast Asia, the reality of climate change is already visible. In Indonesia, entire communities are being relocated inland as frequent flooding erodes homes and livelihoods.

The government’s ambitious plan to move its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara is seen not just as a development project, but as a long-term response to sinking land and rising seas.

Further west, farmers in East Africa are battling prolonged droughts linked to shifting weather patterns. In parts of Kenya, crop failures have become routine, pushing families toward urban migration and informal economies.

While international climate negotiations continue under frameworks like the United Nations climate process, many frontline nations say progress has been too slow.In response, local solutions are emerging.

In Bangladesh, floating farms built on bamboo platforms allow crops to survive seasonal flooding. In sub-Saharan Africa, solar-powered irrigation systems are helping farmers reduce dependence on unpredictable rainfall.

“These are not just innovations; they are lifelines,” said a Nairobi-based environmental researcher.However, experts warn that such measures, while effective in the short term, cannot replace large-scale global action to curb emissions.

Adapting to climate change comes at a steep price.
According to estimates by the World Bank, developing countries may need hundreds of billions of dollars annually by 2030 to finance climate adaptation efforts.
Yet funding gaps remain significant.

Many nations argue that those least responsible for climate change are bearing its heaviest burdens.

“The climate crisis is fundamentally a justice issue,” said a policy advisor at an African environmental think tank. “We are paying for a problem we did not create.”

Beyond infrastructure and livelihoods, climate change is also eroding cultural identities.

In Pacific island nations, ancestral lands and sacred sites are disappearing under rising waters. In Arctic regions, indigenous communities are witnessing the loss of traditional hunting grounds as ice melts.

For many, the crisis is not just environmental it is existential.“When land disappears, culture disappears with it,” said a community leader from a Pacific island nation.

Despite mounting challenges, there are signs of resilience.Youth-led climate movements are gaining momentum worldwide, pushing governments and corporations toward greater accountability.

Renewable energy adoption is accelerating in parts of Africa and Asia, offering a glimpse of a more sustainable future.

Still, scientists warn that the window to limit global warming to safe levels is rapidly closing.The question now is not whether the world will adapt but whether it can do so fast enough to prevent irreversible damage.

For millions living on the frontlines, the answer will determine not just their future, but their very survival.

Decades ago, that stretch of land was not a lake but part of the sprawling Bishrampur open-cast coal mineone of many that powered India’s industrial rise.

Today, it is part of Kenapara Eco Park, a reclaimed landscape where paddle boats glide over deep green water and a floating restaurant serves visitors on weekends.

Rajak’s life mirrors this transformation. Once promised a job in the mine after giving up his land, he says he was denied work due to a disability. Now, he guards the same site no longer a source of coal, but of cautious hope.

“At least I am earning something here now,” he says.A second life for exhausted landIndia, the world’s second-largest coal producer and consumer, is confronting a new reality: hundreds of mines are reaching the end of their productive life. In response, authorities and state-run firms are turning to land reclamation and adaptive reuse to transform these sites into sustainable economic zones.

The Bishrampur mine, spread across 1,472 hectares, produced over 38 million tonnes of coal between 1961 and 2018. When reserves ran dry, its vast pits some naturally filled with rainwater over time offered an unexpected opportunity.

Instead of leaving behind barren scars, local authorities, with support from South Eastern Coalfields Ltd, a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, began converting the site into a tourism hub.

Boating facilities, cottages, a floating restaurant, and green spaces gradually replaced extraction machinery and dust. What was once an industrial void is now a modest but growing attraction, drawing around 150 visitors on weekends.

At the heart of this transformation are women from the Shiv Shakti Mahila Gram Sangathan, a self-help group that manages key operations at the eco park. For many of them, the shift is not just economic but deeply personal.

“In the village, most women are only housewives. Our movements were restricted,” says Anjani Singh, a boat operator. “Working here, meeting officials and people gave us confidence.”Their work rowing boats, managing visitors, running the floating restaurant has reshaped how they are seen in their community.

No longer identified solely by family roles, they are now known for their work.Savita Gupta, who runs the floating eatery, describes her journey as transformative.

Once confined to domestic responsibilities, she now serves tourists, manages supplies, and earns an income. “I hope my daughter will learn from my life and think about becoming an independent woman,” she says.

The group’s leader, Pooja Sahu, adds that the change is as much about identity as it is about livelihood. “We wanted to be known by our own names,” she says.

The eco park is only one part of a broader regeneration effort. Nearby, a pisciculture project has turned the lake into a source of fish production, supplying local markets and creating additional income streams.

A 40-hectare solar park, generating 12 megawatts of power, employs local residents, including young technicians like Pawan Kumar, who now earns a steady monthly income.

Reforestation efforts are also underway. Hundreds of hectares have been planted with trees such as sheesham and mango, slowly restoring ecological balance to land once stripped bare.

Together, these initiatives represent a multi-pronged approach: tourism, renewable energy, agriculture, and forestry all layered onto a former mining landscape.Fragile gainsYet, the revival is far from secure.

The women who operate the boats say they bear much of the financial burden themselves, paying monthly fees and covering maintenance costs. Infrastructure remains patchy, and promotional efforts are limited.

A nightly light show, once a key attraction, has been non-functional for months due to technical issues. Visitor numbers fluctuate, and without sustained investment, growth remains uncertain.

Officials from SECL have recently visited the site the first such inspection in years but concrete plans for expansion or maintenance have yet to be detailed.“Currently, it is managed by the district authority,” said an SECL official, adding that improvements are under consideration.

For locals, the concern is that without consistent support, the project could stagnate another chapter in a long history of promises tied to the land.

As night deepens over Kenapara, Rajak continues his patrol, the beam of his torch tracing slow arcs across the water. The quiet is punctuated only by the creak of boats and distant voices.

He has seen this land through its many phases farmland, mine, and now a tentative experiment in renewal. Each transformation has brought both opportunity and loss.“I’ve seen how things end here,” he says.

“This time, let it not end.”His words capture the delicate balance of India’s mine-to-eco-park model. It is a story of resilience and reinvention, but also of unfinished transitions.

The lakes may be calm, the trees slowly returning, and the boats moving again but beneath the surface lies a deeper question: can these reclaimed landscapes truly sustain the communities that once depended on coal?

For now, the answer drifts somewhere between the past and the promise of what these waters might yet become.

Members of the party’s Middle East crisis economic response task force said the measures aim to stabilise domestic energy supply and prices as shipments of oil and gas to South Korea have been disrupted by the regional conflict affecting the vital maritime corridor.

According to data from the Korea International Trade Association, South Korea depends heavily on energy imports, sourcing about 70% of its crude oil and roughly 20% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Middle East.

Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Do-geol said the government would prioritise managing LNG supplies by increasing electricity production from coal and nuclear facilities while scaling back reliance on LNG-fired power generation.

Limits that capped coal power output at 80% of installed capacity will be lifted starting Monday, Ahn said. Maintenance work at six nuclear reactors will also be completed earlier than scheduled to raise the utilisation rate of nuclear plants from the high-60% range to about 80%.

The government on Friday introduced a price ceiling on gasoline of 1,724 won ($1.15) per litre, with adjustments planned every two weeks to reflect changes in global oil markets.

Ahn said gasoline and diesel prices had already declined since the cap was introduced, falling by 58 won and 77 won per litre respectively as of Sunday.

Officials said a supplementary budget would be drafted by the end of the month and submitted to parliament to cushion the economic impact of higher energy costs.

Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae said the party would fast-track approval of the budget within 10 days after it is submitted. The proposed spending package is expected to include compensation for refiners linked to the fuel price cap, energy vouchers for households, logistics support for exporters and expanded investment in renewable energy.

The Budget Ministry said no specific date had yet been set for the supplementary budget but that preparations were underway.

Authorities are also considering designating the Yeosu Petrochemical Complex as a special industrial crisis response zone as part of efforts to support industries affected by the energy disruption.

The proposed development would involve large solar and wind installations across remote desert landscapes near Namibia’s southwestern coast. Supporters say the project could transform the country into a leading exporter of green hydrogen an energy source viewed as crucial for reducing global carbon emissions.

However, environmental groups argue that the development could threaten rare plant species and wildlife, including the endangered African penguin.The initiative forms part of Namibia’s national strategy to become a global hub for green hydrogen production. Hydrogen itself is a highly flammable gas that, when burned, produces heat and water rather than carbon dioxide.

This makes it an attractive alternative fuel for industries seeking to lower emissions.Hydrogen is already widely used in sectors such as petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing and fertiliser production.

However, the majority of hydrogen currently produced around the world relies on fossil fuels. When hydrogen is generated using renewable energy sources like wind or solar power, it is known as “green hydrogen” because of its lower environmental footprint.

The massive project in Namibia is being led by Enertrag through a joint venture known as Hyphen Hydrogen Energy. The company believes Namibia possesses some of the best natural conditions on Earth for producing green hydrogen at scale.

According to project developers, the region benefits from intense sunlight and powerful coastal winds, creating ideal conditions for renewable electricity generation. By combining these natural advantages with large-scale electrolysis facilities, the project aims to produce hydrogen fuel for export to international markets, particularly in Europe.

Yet the chosen location for the project has sparked intense debate. The development is planned within Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park, a vast protected area covering approximately 26,000 square kilometres along Namibia’s southern coastline.

The park’s name means “Soft Sands” in the Nama language and reflects the unique desert terrain that defines the region. Established in 2004, the park occupies land once known as the “Sperrgebiet,” a German term meaning “Restricted Area.”

During the early 20th century, German colonial authorities sealed off this region after diamonds were discovered there. Strict controls prevented most human activity for decades in order to protect mining interests.When the diamond rush eventually subsided, the long period of isolation allowed an extraordinary variety of plant and animal life to flourish.

Today the region is considered one of the most biologically unique desert environments in the world.Environmental organisations say this fragile ecosystem could be severely disrupted by the introduction of large industrial facilities.The Namibian Chamber of the Environment has warned that construction of solar panels, wind turbines and supporting infrastructure may damage habitats that support rare desert species.

In particular, scientists are concerned about unusual succulent plants that have evolved remarkable survival strategies to endure the harsh environment.These plants often store water in their tissues or reflect sunlight to reduce heat absorption adaptations that allow them to thrive in one of the planet’s most unforgiving climates.

Conservationists fear that large-scale development could push many of these species closer to extinction.Chris Brown, head of the Namibian Chamber of the Environment, has argued that the project should not be described as “green hydrogen” at all. Instead, he suggests it could become “red hydrogen,” referring to the risk that the development could push vulnerable species onto the biodiversity “red list.”

Brown also accuses wealthier countries supporting the project of applying double standards.According to him, nations such as Germany would be unlikely to permit similar industrial developments inside their own most protected natural areas. Yet they appear willing to support such projects abroad in countries seeking economic investment.“The Germans would never allow their premier national parks to become industrial zones,” Brown said.

“But they seem comfortable exporting the environmental risks to Namibia.”The environmental concerns extend beyond land ecosystems. Namibia’s southern coastline forms part of the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area, one of the largest marine conservation zones in Africa.

This coastal stretch extends roughly 400 kilometres along the South Atlantic and supports an extraordinary variety of marine life. Among its most notable inhabitants are the critically endangered African penguins, whose populations have declined sharply in recent decades.The Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds has raised alarms about the potential impact of the hydrogen project on marine ecosystems.

The organisation operates from the small port town of Lüderitz, historically known for its fishing industry. If the hydrogen project proceeds, the town could undergo dramatic expansion to support new shipping and industrial infrastructure.Neil Shaw, a representative from the seabird conservation group, warns that proposed port expansions could damage especially sensitive marine habitats.

He notes that the planned development areas include regions where penguins and other coastal birds depend on rich marine ecosystems for food.From his office overlooking a lagoon where flamingos gather, Shaw says even relatively small disruptions could have significant consequences for wildlife populations.“If development occurs in these highly sensitive zones, the impacts on marine ecosystems could be severe,” he said.

Project developers insist they are aware of the environmental risks and are working to minimize them.Representatives from Hyphen Hydrogen Energy say environmental impact assessments are currently underway. According to the company, careful planning will ensure that the project avoids the most ecologically sensitive areas within the park.

Toni Beukes, the company’s head of environmental, social and governance initiatives, says the southern region of Namibia offers a rare combination of wind and solar resources that are essential for producing green hydrogen at globally competitive prices.She argues that if Namibia hopes to establish itself in the emerging hydrogen economy, it must take advantage of locations where renewable energy potential is strongest.

“The south offers an exceptional overlap of wind and solar resources,” Beukes explained. “If Namibia wants to compete with other hydrogen projects around the world, that’s where the country’s advantage lies.”The debate reflects a broader global challenge: balancing urgent efforts to transition toward cleaner energy with the need to protect fragile ecosystems.

Supporters of the project emphasize the potential economic benefits. Large-scale hydrogen production could create jobs, attract international investment and help Namibia position itself as a major player in the future energy market.

Opponents argue that renewable energy projects should not come at the cost of irreplaceable natural environments.As Namibia weighs its ambitions for a green energy future, the fate of its rare desert plants and endangered penguins may become a defining test of how the world pursues sustainability without sacrificing biodiversity.

Tomas Kaberger, chair of the Tokyo-based institute’s executive board, said the crisis had underscored Japan’s exposure to supply disruptions and rising fuel costs as tensions in the region intensify.

Japan relies on the Middle East for about 95% of its crude oil imports and roughly 11% of its liquefied natural gas supplies, according to industry estimates. Around 70% of its oil shipments and 6% of LNG imports typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor.

The halt in tanker traffic through the strait has triggered sharp increases in fuel prices, placing additional pressure on energy-importing economies such as Japan.

“When fossil fuel imports are cut, the power plants stop and your cars stop running,” Kaberger told Reuters in an interview last week, describing the risks posed by reliance on overseas fuel supplies.

He said the current crisis involving Iran served as a reminder that fossil-fuel dependence exposes economies to geopolitical tensions and price volatility.

The renewed focus on energy security comes as Japan marks 15 years since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which transformed public attitudes toward nuclear power and reshaped the country’s energy policy.

Kaberger cautioned against viewing nuclear energy as a long-term solution, arguing that large centralized power plants could be vulnerable to modern military threats such as drones and precision strikes.

He pointed to damage inflicted on energy infrastructure during the Russia-Ukraine war as evidence that large facilities can be targeted during conflicts.

Instead, Kaberger said decentralized renewable systems including solar, wind and battery storage could provide stronger resilience because they distribute generation across multiple locations.

He added that advances in renewable technology have altered Japan’s long-standing perception of resource scarcity. While the country was historically considered resource-poor due to limited reserves of oil, coal, gas and uranium, falling costs of solar and wind power have shifted the landscape.

“In the 21st century, with solar, wind and battery technologies becoming the world’s cheapest forms of power generation, Japan is resource-rich,” Kaberger said.