Gepubliceerd op 2 juni 2022
Vanuatu is a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean consisting of more than 80 relatively small islands of volcanic origin. This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 28 May 2022, shows the central islands of the archipelago, including the Ambrym volcano.
On 27 May 2022, Vanatu’s parliament in Port Vila, its capital, declared a State of Climate Emergency. In his speech, the nation’s prime minister has reported that climate change is expected to have an impact on the local territory amounting to an estimated 1.2 billion dollars, emphasising the necessity to take urgent action. Moreover, he highlighted that rising sea levels and severe weather events – such as devastating cyclones – are already affecting the Pacific Ocean and are expected to increase in intensity and frequency in the future because of climate change.
Copernicus Sentinel satellites and thematic services provide crucial data to better understand and monitor climate change, and to develop mitigation and adaptation measures.
