Environmental Challenges: Paradise Under Pressure

Climate change threatens Guadeloupe's very existence. Hurricane Maria in 2017 demonstrated the islands' vulnerability, causing billions in damage and traumatizing residents.

"The hurricanes are stronger, the season longer," warns meteorologist Mélanie Jeanne. "What was once-a-century is becoming once-a-decade. We must adapt or perish."

Rising seas erode beaches crucial for tourism. Sargassum seaweed invasions, linked to ocean warming and pollution, create health hazards and economic losses. Coral bleaching devastates marine ecosystems.

Yet Guadeloupeans lead innovative responses. The Cousteau Reserve protects 400 hectares of coral reefs through community management. Farmers like Joby Lamy practice agroecology, proving sustainable agriculture can be profitable. Schools teach climate adaptation alongside traditional subjects.

"We can't wait for Paris to save us," declares environmental activist Gladys Gruel. "Island people know how to live with the sea. We're rediscovering our ancestors' wisdom while embracing new technologies."