Climate change is integrated into high school-based assessments in the Solomon Islands, and Lois Maehorana and Mary Tehekeni are supporting students to complete these assessments, building the next generation of “climate warriors” along the way.
Lois and Mary joined the Solomon Islands Climate Change Division (CCD) as Integrated Vulnerability Assessment (IVA) Officers in early 2025. Their roles are supported by the Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme (CFCSP) and based within the CCD’s awareness team.
In addition to supporting the delivery of IVAs across the Solomon Islands, Lois and Mary’s work within the CCD includes raising awareness of climate change among Solomon Islanders – including students – of what is, and can be, done to both mitigate and adapt to climate impacts.
This awareness work includes visiting high schools and hosting students at the CCD office, supporting them with their research and building understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change, and adaptation and mitigation strategies “because most of their school-based assessments are around climate change,” Lois explained.
Mary reflected that, through the awareness work, students are building an understanding of climate change.
“We ensure they (students) know what climate change is and how it impacts the community, particularly in the context of the Pacific and the Solomon Islands, so that they are well-informed,” she said.
Part of the awareness work involves educating students and the wider community on what the CCD and the wider Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology are doing to combat climate change and build community resilience.
We are creating a space in which we share aspects of the work. In a way, we are creating climate change warriors along the way.
Lois and Mary have found students are beginning to recognise impacts of climate change that they may not have considered before and are also recognising activities in their communities that are methods of climate adaptation, even in cases where they are not referred to in that way.
“The sessions are helping them recognise that their communities are already adapting to climate change. They have been doing this and not even realising it,” said Lois.
In creating these “climate change warriors,” Mary, Lois and their CCD colleagues are helping to build awareness, understanding and agency among the next generation of Solomon Islanders who will shape their country’s climate response.
_______________________
Feature image: Mary Tehekeni presenting to students of Visale Community School.