Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, a poet and climate advocate from the Marshall Islands, has played a significant role in raising awareness of the climate crisis and its impact on her homeland. She first gained international recognition in 2014 when she performed a poem at the opening of the United Nations Climate Summit, addressing her young daughter and warning about the rising sea levels threatening the Marshall Islands. Her performance received a standing ovation and established her as a prominent voice in global climate activism.

Since then, Jetñil-Kijiner’s efforts have expanded beyond poetry. She currently serves as a climate envoy for the Marshall Islands Ministry of Environment, where she represents her country in international climate negotiations and contributes to the development of national climate adaptation policies. Recently, she completed a doctoral degree focusing on the intersection of climate adaptation policy and poetry, highlighting the unique role creative expression can play in environmental discourse.

In addition to her governmental work, Jetñil-Kijiner co-founded Jo-Jikum, an organisation dedicated to empowering Marshallese youth to address environmental and climate challenges facing their islands. Her creative projects continue to explore the complex interplay between climate change, the legacies of colonialism, and the history of U.S. nuclear testing in the region.

Through her combined academic, diplomatic, and artistic pursuits, Jetñil-Kijiner remains a leading figure in efforts to confront the existential threats posed by climate change to low-lying island nations such as the Marshall Islands.