UNESCO is expanding efforts to protect living heritage across Small Island Developing States (SIDS), arguing that traditional knowledge systems are increasingly essential to disaster preparedness and climate resilience as island nations face rising environmental threats.

From the Pacific to the Caribbean, communities are using inherited practices such as cyclone-resistant housing, traditional medicine, oral storytelling, food preservation and weaving not only to preserve cultural identity, but also to respond to increasingly severe climate pressures including rising sea levels, volcanic activity, floods, cyclones and displacement.

UNESCO said these practices, often passed down through generations, represent both vulnerable cultural assets and practical tools for survival, particularly in remote communities with limited access to formal infrastructure.

Small Island Developing States account for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet remain among the most exposed to the consequences of climate change because of their geography, dependence on natural resources and vulnerability to extreme weather events.

In response, UNESCO, with financial support from the Government of Japan, launched a regional project involving communities in Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Belize and The Bahamas to strengthen the role of intangible cultural heritage in disaster risk reduction.

The project focused on documenting community practices, supporting transmission of traditional knowledge and connecting local communities with disaster management authorities so cultural knowledge could be integrated into formal resilience planning.

UNESCO said the approach reflects a broader recognition that living heritage can serve as both a safeguard and a response mechanism during emergencies.On Vanuatu’s Tanna Island, for example, community member Warau Frederick described traditional cyclone shelter construction as both cultural preservation and physical protection.

Vanuatu is among the countries most exposed to climate-related disasters in the Pacific, regularly facing cyclones, volcanic eruptions and displacement pressures. Communities there continue to rely on long-established building methods using local materials and inherited techniques to construct shelters capable of withstanding severe weather.

Frederick said he learned the process from his uncle and chose to build a shelter for his family before cyclone season, reflecting how traditional architecture remains embedded in everyday preparedness.Traditional weaving also remains economically significant in the same communities.

Eva Namri, a community member on Tanna Island and a knowledge bearer of traditional weaving, said the practice serves as a financial safety net during periods of hardship.“Weaving brings a great deal of income to my family,” Namri said. “It supports us whenever we face financial difficulties.

The biggest challenge for weaving comes from natural disasters.”UNESCO said such examples show how cultural practices operate simultaneously as economic resilience tools and heritage systems, particularly where formal income opportunities are limited.

Across the Caribbean, communities participating in the project focused on preserving food systems and traditional medicine as part of local resilience strategies.

In Fiji, where flooding and environmental changes increasingly threaten food security, communities relied on traditional fishing, farming methods and collective cooperation to maintain access to food.

In Vanuatu, people facing repeated displacement from volcanic activity and cyclones used early warning knowledge, gardening systems and traditional housing practices to reduce vulnerability.In Tonga, communities displaced by a volcanic eruption and tsunami emphasized the importance of oral traditions and craft practices not only for cultural continuity but also for mental well-being and livelihood recovery after disaster.

UNESCO said the project also created longer-term institutional foundations by identifying community members to serve as Intangible Cultural Heritage ambassadors, responsible for helping sustain and transmit traditional practices beyond the duration of the program.These local ambassadors were tasked with ensuring knowledge transfer, particularly in communities facing relocation or demographic shifts that risk interrupting intergenerational learning.

For many participants, the initiative also had direct economic implications.Feleti Akauola, a community member from Atata in Tonga, said relocation after disaster created uncertainty over how families could rebuild sustainable livelihoods.

He said guidance from Sitiveni Fehoko, a community trainer and intangible cultural heritage ambassador, helped communities think about traditional knowledge not only as preservation, but as a source of income and long-term stability.

“One of the key aspects of the project was that it strengthened me in many ways,” Akauola said. “It explained ways we could earn a living, especially for those of us who had been relocated. This was very encouraging, and it gave me and my wife the idea to start our work and make a living for our family.”UNESCO said this illustrates how cultural safeguarding increasingly intersects with economic adaptation, particularly in island states where environmental shocks can quickly translate into displacement, unemployment and food insecurity

.The agency has argued that disaster planning should not treat heritage solely as something to be protected after crisis, but as an active component of prevention and recovery strategies.As climate risks intensify globally, UNESCO said living heritage offers continuity that extends beyond formal emergency responses, helping communities retain identity while adapting to rapidly changing environmental conditions.

The organization said the project also raised awareness of vulnerable traditions that may otherwise disappear as migration, urbanization and repeated disasters disrupt local transmission systems.Even in cases of displacement, UNESCO found that communities continued practicing oral traditions, crafts and local environmental knowledge, reinforcing the adaptability of living heritage under pressure.

The initiative aligns with broader United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to climate resilience, cultural sustainability and inclusive development, particularly in regions where environmental vulnerability and cultural preservation are closely linked.UNESCO said future efforts will continue to focus on integrating heritage protection into national disaster reduction policies while supporting local ownership of cultural safeguarding.

For Small Island Developing States, the agency said, resilience increasingly depends not only on infrastructure and funding, but also on whether communities can retain the knowledge systems that have helped them survive for generations.

Surging global fuel prices are placing mounting pressure on households and small businesses across continents, with workers and entrepreneurs reporting rising costs, shrinking incomes and difficult trade-offs in daily life.

On a small dairy farm north of Auckland in New Zealand, a farmer managing 200 cows said higher diesel and petrol costs are eroding already tight margins. The farm consumes around 900 litres of diesel and up to 300 litres of petrol each month to operate tractors, machinery and quad bikes. Recent price increases have added more than NZ$1,200 to monthly expenses, translating to over NZ$15,000 annually.

The farmer said the burden extends beyond direct fuel use. Contractors charge more for their services and fertiliser prices have risen by about 40%, compounding operational costs. With commodity prices largely dictated by markets, the farmer said there is little scope to pass on higher costs, forcing decisions to delay maintenance and investment.

In Port Vila, bus driver Daniel Thomas described similar pressures in the transport sector. Driving from early morning until late evening, he earns about A$120 a day but expects that rising fuel prices could reduce his take-home income significantly. With vehicles requiring frequent refuelling and air-conditioning essential in tropical temperatures, Thomas said higher costs may force drivers to raise fares despite concerns about passenger affordability.

Across Vanuatu, many drivers are servicing loans on their vehicles, increasing financial vulnerability. Thomas said without fare increases, drivers may struggle to meet repayments, highlighting the limited options available to absorb cost shocks.In South Korea, the response has included policy measures to reduce fuel consumption.

Kim Hooin, a public sector worker commuting from Cheongju to Sejong, said mandatory vehicle restrictions introduced in late March have altered daily routines. Under the system, government employees are prohibited from driving one day a week based on licence plate numbers, encouraging greater use of public transport.

Kim said he now takes the bus daily, extending his commute time but reducing fuel expenses. At work, he manages government vehicles and said usage is being tightly controlled, with electric vehicles prioritised where possible. The government has also promoted broader energy-saving measures, including reduced water and electricity use, framing the campaign as a collective response to economic pressures.

In rural Surin Province, small-scale trader Teerayut Ruenrerng said fuel shortages and price increases have disrupted both supply chains and daily operations. Running a mobile grocery business, he often visits multiple fuel stations to secure limited quantities of diesel. Inconsistent access has made it difficult to plan routes and maintain regular sales.

Ruenrerng said rising input costs, including higher prices for meat, produce and packaging, have reduced profits by up to 20%. Supply disruptions mean that orders are frequently only partially fulfilled, forcing adjustments to inventory and pricing. He has increased some retail prices but said doing so risks losing customers in already constrained markets.

In Tokyo, Koichi Matsumoto, who operates a traditional bathhouse established by his family in the 1930s, said energy costs are a growing concern. Although the business switched from oil to gas five years ago, heating expenses remain high and are expected to increase further if global energy markets tighten.

Bathhouse operators face additional constraints, including regulated pricing set by local authorities. Matsumoto said admission fees cannot be raised freely, limiting the ability to offset rising costs. With declining customer numbers and ageing infrastructure, he said many similar establishments are weighing whether to continue operating.

In Sydney, interior designer Belinda Morgan said uncertainty linked to global energy markets is affecting demand in the construction sector. She said projects have slowed as clients delay spending decisions, prompting her to seek additional work and cut household expenses.

The family is reassessing routine activities, including discretionary travel, to conserve fuel and money.In Delhi, warehouse worker Rajesh Singh described a more acute impact, with rising cooking gas prices and food inflation forcing him to reduce meals. Earning about 12,000 rupees per month, he said essential expenses including rent and food have surged, leaving little room for savings. He reported eating once a day in recent weeks and borrowing money to manage basic needs.

Singh said several colleagues have already left the city due to rising costs, and he is considering returning to his home village if conditions do not improve. The situation reflects broader pressures on low-income urban workers facing simultaneous increases in energy, housing and food prices.

In Beijing, taxi driver Cui Xinming said fuel price increases have added to the strain of long working hours. Driving up to 12 hours a day, he said rising costs are a concern but expressed confidence in government measures to stabilise prices. He noted that China’s investment in alternative energy and electric vehicles could reduce reliance on oil over time.

Cui said he is considering leaving the profession due to fatigue and changing economic conditions, highlighting how cost pressures are influencing career decisions in addition to daily finances.

Across regions, the accounts point to a common pattern: rising fuel costs are feeding through supply chains, increasing the price of goods and services while compressing incomes. For many, the adjustments involve reducing consumption, raising prices where possible, or reconsidering long-term plans in an increasingly uncertain economic environment.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake Friday was near the Loyalty Islands. It was 37 kilometers (23 miles) deep.

That is southwest of Fiji, north of New Zealand and east of Australia.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves up to 3 meters (10 feet) above tides were possible for Vanuatu.

Smaller waves were possible for Fiji, New Caledonia, Kiribati and New Zealand.