Title: The Vanishing Villages of Alaska – A Climate Change Reality Check The small village of Kwigillingok in southwestern Alaska has been hit hard by climate change, with its residents experiencing firsthand the devastating effects of rising sea levels and eroding coastlines. When Typhoon Halong’s remnants swept through the area on October 11th, it caused significant damage to homes and displaced most of the villagers. Kwigillingok is not alone in its struggle against climate change; many Alaska Native villages are facing similar challenges due to human-caused global warming. The Yup’ik language Yugtun, spoken by residents as their first language, may soon become a casualty of these changing conditions if the villagers cannot find safe havens elsewhere. The historical context for this crisis is rooted in Alaska’s permafrost thawing and causing erosion and flooding over time. As temperatures continue to rise due to greenhouse gas emissions, these issues have become more pronounced, leading to homes being washed away by rising waters. This has left many residents like Noah Andrew Sr., a 74-year-old Russian Orthodox priest, considering whether they should leave their homeland behind in search of safer ground. The potential implications of this crisis are far-reaching and complex. Not only does it pose an immediate threat to the lives and livelihoods of those living in these vulnerable communities, but it also raises questions about our collective responsibility towards mitigating climate change before it’s too late. As sea levels continue to rise at an alarming rate, we must ask ourselves what measures are being taken to protect not only Alaska Native villages but all coastal regions around the world from similar fates. From my perspective, this situation highlights the urgent need for global action on climate change. It serves as a stark reminder that our actions today will have lasting consequences for generations to come. We must work together to find sustainable solutions that can help protect these vulnerable communities and preserve their unique cultures before it’s too late. The fate of Kwigillingok and other Alaskan villages should serve as a wake-up call, prompting us all to take immediate steps towards reducing our carbon footprint and advocating for policies aimed at combatting climate change on both local and global scales.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2025/12/15/nx-s1-5596136/alaska-storm-native-climate-change)
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