Higher and stronger waves are chipping away at the  shoreline, homes are falling into the ocean, and graves have been swallowed by water. When people imagine apocalyptic scenes of climate change— this is what they have in mind.   

Even if the world sticks to the agreements made in Paris about carbon emissions, low-lying islands like this could become extinct. That leaves Leem and her community in a difficult position. Should they stay on the Marshall Islands? Begin migration to a new place? What do these decisions mean for their culture and daily lives?

This interview was conducted by The Takeaway’s John Hockenberry.

Visit heatofthemoment.org for a transcript of this conversation.