Changing Tides

Shifting weather patterns linked to climate change are jeopardising the livelihoods of seaweed farmers in Timor.

Seaweed farming has long been the financial backbone for women in the coastal village of Sulamu, located in Timor, Indonesia. But even a minor shift in weather patterns can have devastating effect on their crops. Seaweed on its own tends to sell for little profit. Farmers will therefore often dry their seaweed in the open sun in an attempt to increase the seaweed’s value. But sudden rains and overcast days mean farmers like Fatmawati are increasingly counting their losses.

This short documentary for UN Women uncovers the lived impact of climate change on women’s livelihoods in Timor and what, if anything, can be done to help them.