LocationsRising Above the Tide: Chairlady Vicky Terupo Leads Her Community Toward Climate Resilience
November 12, 2025
Vicky Terupo serves as the Chairlady of the Tukuu Community Government in Bougainville's remote Mortlock Atolls
“Living on the atolls, we are on the frontline of climate change. One of the biggest challenges we face is sea level rise, which brings very high tides that destroy our gardens, damage our crops, and affect our fishing grounds. When this happens, we often struggle to find enough food to eat.”
This is how Vicky Terepo, a community leader from remote Mortlock Atolls describes how climate change is already impacting the lives of atoll and island communities in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. As Chairlady of the Taku Community Government, Vicky is dedicated to helping her people face the harsh realities of climate change head-on.
Recently, Victy took part in a Provincial Climate Change Mainstreaming Workshops for District and LLG Planners hosted by UNDP’s and CCDA’s joint Building Resilience to Climate Change Project. For her, the training wasn’t just another workshop — it was a vital opportunity to gain knowledge that could help safeguard her island community’s future.
All participants developed of adaptation implementation plans for their district and LLG during the workshop.
“I’ve learnt so many valuable things from this climate change mainstreaming training, and I can already see the positive impacts it can have for my atoll community,” she shares.
Life on the atolls is beautiful but challenging. Rising sea levels bring high tides that wipe out food gardens, destroy crops, and disrupt fishing grounds — threatening the community’s main sources of food and income.
“As a woman, it’s especially difficult,” Vicky explains. “We are the ones who have to provide food and care for our families. When our gardens are destroyed, it becomes very challenging to sustain our households.”
In the atolls of Bougainville, climate change is placing a particular burden on women.
Access to clean water is another growing crisis. Saltwater intrusion contaminates wells and damages coconuts, the community’s main source of clean drinking water. Many are forced to use unsafe water, leading to illness and hardship.
And when the seas grow rough, transport to and from the atolls becomes nearly impossible. Ships can’t deliver food or supplies, leaving canteen and shop shelves empty and families struggling.
But Vicky refuses to give up. Instead, she’s using what she’s learned from the training to help her community plan for a more resilient future.
Ms. Vicky Terupo reciving her certificate from Ms. Lynette Baratai-Pokas (LLB), Secretary for the Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Environment Conservation and Climate Change of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
“This training helps us understand how to mainstream climate change into our local planning and make our communities stronger. I hope what we learn here will not only be applied at the provincial level, but will also reach our atoll communities — because we are the ones most affected.”
Armed with new knowledge and determination, Vicky is ready to take action.
“This training gives us the capacity to adapt and respond better. I’m excited to bring these lessons home, so we can start developing local solutions and build a safer, more sustainable future for our people.
The Building Resilience to Climate Change Project, implemented jointly by UNDP and the Climate Change Development Authority of Papua New Guinea, seeks to mainstream climate resilience into development planning in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and East New Britain, Manus, Milne Bay, and Morobe Provinces. By giving hands-on trainings and technical assistance to community leaders from 21 atoll and island communities, the project seeks build the capacity of communities to take grassroots action to prepare, respond and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
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