In recent weeks, severe winter storms tore through parts of my country, claiming at least 10 lives and devastating the lives of many of my fellow South Africans already living on the margins. From the flooded streets of major cities like Cape Town to informal and rural settlements left submerged under rising waters, thousands of families have watched their homes, belongings and any sense of security washed away. I watched the weather forecast closely as disaster unfurled in the provinces around mine; I wondered when the storm would hit us too.

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Days of relentless rain, powerful winds and even snowfall battered provinces including the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga. It forced our government to declare a national disaster for the second time this year. Schools closed, roads collapsed and entire communities were left stranded as floodwaters exposed the deep inequalities that continue to shape who suffers most during climate crises. For many, particularly those living in informal settlements and rural communities, extreme weather is not simply a natural disaster, it is a brutal reminder of how poverty and climate change collide to place the most vulnerable directly in harm’s way.

The extent of 2026 floods in Southern Africa

In the first quarter alone, heavy rains and devastating floods swept across Southern Africa, exposing our growing vulnerability to climate-driven disasters. Millions of people across my country and our neighbours (Madagascar,  Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe) have been affected by severe flooding. Since December 2025, La Niña-induced heavy rainfall has impacted more than 2.36 million people. 

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Two successive cyclones, Fytia and Gezani, tore through Madagascar and Mozambique, leaving behind destruction that claimed lives, displaced families and destroyed critical infrastructure and crops. In Mozambique alone, nearly 1.3 million people now require humanitarian assistance to cope with the subsequent displacement, healthcare crisis and food shortages. The increasing severity of climate extremes is no longer a distant warning, it is a lived reality for communities throughout the region. 

Food insecurity and malnutrition on the rise

As climate shocks intensify, food insecurity and malnutrition continue to tighten their grip on the region. The devastating imagery of submerged crops in South Africa’s agricultural provinces frightens me. I am well aware how floodwaters destroyed crops and disrupted already fragile food systems earlier this year, leaving behind numbers that are hard to read: an estimated 13.2 million people acutely food insecure and around 672,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition by the end of March. 

This crisis is unfolding within a volatile global economic climate that threatens tofurther deepen existing inequalities. Continued illegal attacks by the United States and Israel on Middle Eastern/West Asian countries have driven up oil prices; weakening exchange rates and limiting access to fertilisers ahead of the next planting season. For many Southern African countries already struggling with poverty and unemployment, these pressures could push basic food access even further out of reach. As it is, food costs since the beginning of this year have increased in my country at a rate double that of other first quarter inflation in previous years.  

Disease outbreaks stretch fragile healthcare systems

On top of this, disease outbreaks are compounding the pressure on already overstretched healthcare systems. Cholera outbreaks continue to spread across Angola and Mozambique, with recent flooding in Mozambique accelerating transmission and worsening sanitation conditions. Since January’s floods, it has recorded more than 9,000 cholera cases. We’ve also noticed a surge in malaria cases due to the heavy rains. 

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These healthcare issues are exacerbated by further damage to the already failing healthcare infrastructure within the region, particularly in its rural communities. In communities already battling displacement, food shortages and inadequate healthcare infrastructure, the spread of infectious diseases further exposes the deep inequalities shaping the region’s experience of the climate crisis. Despite our disproportionate experiences of climate impacts, the region remains underfunded in its response efforts. Of the US$602 million requested for relief operations since January, only a quarter had been received.

Make polluters pay for their climate chaos

Southern Africa stands at the intersection of climate instability, inequality and fragile governance. And while these disasters are often framed as natural tragedies, their devastation is shaped by political choices, economic systems and a global failure to adequately confront the climate crisis. 

We need bold new taxes on the profits of the fossil fuel industries exacerbating extreme weather with their climate-wrecking operations. Revenue raised can be used in the Global Majority world, which is struggling to keep up with escalating needs – as these crises are no longer seasonal, but constant. For millions across Southern Africa, survival increasingly depends not only on the strength of communities, but on whether the world is willing to act before the next flood arrives. We demand a fast fair phase out of fossil fuels and we can not allow climate culprits to continue profiting off our suffering.  

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I live in a tiny town, and I mean a few hundred people tiny, on the Croatian coast. Despite the size of my little corner of the world, we are lucky to have a lot of wonderful things. We have the beautiful Adriatic Sea, we have the sun, and we have what is left of our rich diverse natural environment. We also have the ‘joys’ of mass tourism, overdevelopment, and the scorching summer heat of the climate crisis.

However, there is one thing our town doesn’t have: a train.

My town is very close to Zadar, where we used to have a train station, but it closed down years ago. In its place, we got our first-ever McDonald’s. It is a jarring symbol of our shifting priorities – we have essentially traded a vital piece of public infrastructure which connected us to the rest of the country and to the rest of Europe, for a global fast-food drive-thru.

To be honest, that station had been barely clinging to life for years, with slow trains and poor connections. We were all hoping for something better – an upgraded, modern, fast, reliable train service. Instead, those possibilities were discarded, and the site was repurposed for commercial profit. 

For the people of Zadar County, this was a massive loss. Our towns became harder to travel between, it became much harder to reach a doctor in a bigger city, or offer a sustainable way for the thousands of tourists who visit us every year to get around and explore this beautiful region.

When you combine this with a bus system that is patchy and irregular (and non-existent at night), you realise you’ve lost more than just a convenient method of transport. You’ve lost access to social life, culture, and to freedom. Ultimately, despite never having wanted one, I was left with no choice but to buy a car.

I’m not even a ‘natural’ driver. While I’ve grown somewhat fond of my small car and my driving is quite good now, I never wanted the stress or financial or environmental cost of owning one. I didn’t buy a car as a luxury; I bought it as a ‘tax’ just to be able to visit friends and family, to be prepared in case of the need to travel to a larger city; in short – to live my life.

However, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon: the local government recently promised to revive Zadar’s train connections, with some works already underway and a completion date set for 2028. I truly hope these new tracks lead to a service that is fast, affordable, and accessible for everyone. We need more than just a track; we need a lifeline for students heading home, patients traveling to the capital for healthcare, and a sustainable way for tourists to explore our coast, without clogging up our streets, polluting our air or burning more fossil fuels in cars. 

My experience isn’t unique. I am not the only one trapped in this cycle.

A new report by the Oeko Institute confirms that my experience is a European reality. It shows that up to 56% of the population in European countries report not using public transport because it is unavailable, while roughly 19% experience ‘forced car ownership.’

This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a policy failure. The report outlines exactly what we need to do to ensure that we put people back at the centre of the conversation:

• Make transport actually available. It’s not just about building tracks or buying buses; it’s about frequent, reliable connections. We need smart regional planning so that living in a small town doesn’t automatically mean you’re isolated and unconnected.
• Make it safe and usable. Especially for many women and seniors, a lack of safety, or just physically difficult stops, is a huge barrier. We need better lighting, clear security protocols, and basic accessibility improvements to make sure everyone can actually use the system.
• Keep it affordable. It’s simple: if it costs too much, people can’t use it. We need ‘social tickets’ and affordable ‘climate tickets‘ to ensure that a lack of money doesn’t trap people in their homes, and that their basic mobility needs are met. 
• Stop ignoring the rural reality. Planners need to use real data to identify ‘high-need’ spots. We shouldn’t be forced into wasting hours on commutes – just because we live outside a city centre.
• Support those who have no choice. Climate policies targeting fossil fuel cars are necessary, but they can’t be a trap for low-income households. If we are going to phase out older cars, we have to provide financial support and affordable, low-emission alternatives first.

We don’t need more fast food drive-thrus; we need a fair, connected Europe. This report isn’t just about data, it’s a call to make sure everyone has a basic right to move freely in a clean, safe, sustainable way.

Mihaela Bogeljić is the Communications Lead with the European Socio-Economic Campaign at Greenpeace International

Vienna – Deep transport inequality across Europe is revealed by a new Oeko-Institut study commissioned by Greenpeace CEE, demonstrating how a lack of viable transit options effectively excludes many Europeans from vital public services and social infrastructure. 

Herwig Schuster, transport campaigner for Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, said: “It is a systemic failure that millions of people on the continent are effectively stranded, cut off from the jobs, healthcare, and opportunities they need to both survive and thrive. Transport is not a luxury, it is a fundamental bridge to a dignified life. We are calling on governments to prioritise a public transport system that is truly inclusive – affordable, accessible, safe, and reliable. It’s time to end transport poverty with a network that serves both the people and the planet.”

The report titled “Access Denied: Transport Poverty in Europe” reveals a stark reality: in roughly 90% of European countries, more than half the population does not use public transport regularly. Most significantly, up to 56% of the population in European countries report being effectively “cut off” from transit because it is simply unavailable in their area. This lack of alternatives leaves up to 19% of the population with no choice but to own a vehicle, compounding both household expenses and carbon emissions. The report also highlights a demographic divide: women and seniors are disproportionately affected by safety concerns and physical accessibility issues, often rendering public transit an unviable option. 

All analysed European countries perform below the European average on at least one of the 11 transport poverty indicators, with Germany, France, and Bulgaria exhibiting the most significant gaps. Czechia, Serbia and Slovakia are the countries with the most relatively best results for the indicators analysed. 

The report outlines a strategic roadmap to end transport poverty, centering on targeted social tickets, integrated regional and spatial planning, and safety-first infrastructure – such as enhanced lighting and emergency alarm systems – to ensure public transit is a viable, secure option for everyone. 

Nelly Unger and Dr. Viktoria Noka, researchers from the Oeko-Institut, said: “We need socially inclusive and climate friendly transport systems across Europe. This means making public transport more attractive: be it through targeted ticketing to improve affordability, integrated spatial and regional planning for better availability, additional safety and security protocols and barrier-free access, or targeted infrastructural investments to reduce time poverty. Where public transport is not an option, we need strong alignment between climate goals and social inclusion in our transport policies to ensure no one is left behind.” 

Greenpeace is advocating for this model of accessible, affordable and sustainable public transport, powered by ‘climate’ and ‘social’ tickets. We are calling for a fair tax on the super-rich to unlock the massive resources needed to turn this vision into a reality. 

 ENDS

Contacts:

Herwig Schuster, Campaigner European Socio-Economic Campaign, Greenpeace CEE, herwig.schuster@greenpeace.org, +43 664 4319214

Mihaela Bogeljić, Comms Lead European Socio-Economic Campaign, Greenpeace CEE, mihaela.bogeljic@greenpeace.org, +385922929265

Greenpeace International Press Desk, pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org, +31 20 718 2470 (24 hours)

We know less about the deep sea than the surface of the moon. Every visit to the Arctic deep brings something totally new to science. 

So for the first time, Greenpeace is conducting a unique deep sea expedition in Arctic waters.

Together with a team of scientists from various renowned research institutions and a research vessel equipped with the scientific technology for exploring the deep sea, we are launching a mission into the last unmapped frontier on Earth.

Why the Arctic

The Arctic Deep is home to unique wildlife – from deep diving whales and tiny octopuses to ecosystems with deep sea corals and ancient sponge gardens, the oldest life forms on the planet. Along the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge, underwater volcanoes and hot springs create oases of life in the freezing dark. These magical but fragile hotspots are wonders of nature that deserve to be both famous and protected. 

Yet the Arctic is one of the least protected marine regions, and the one most affected by climate change. What happens in the deep sea affects the rest of the ocean, climate and life on Earth, and we will show the world why we need to Protect the Oceans.

Here’s what we’re doing in the deep ocean 

1. Scientific research – studying habitats and species at risk:
The team of scientists on board will be hard at work gathering scientific evidence of the diversity and distribution of fauna in Arctic deep-sea ecosystems, with particular focus on vulnerable, rare, and undescribed species. Who knows what they’ll find!

2. Bring the deep sea to people’s hearts and minds:
We’ll be sharing with YOU all along the journey, through incredible and immersive visuals and new stories about the Arctic deep-sea. Our underwater robots will be descending thousands of metres into the Arctic deep to discover and document what we cannot afford to lose, providing the scientific evidence needed to protect these ecosystems. You can catch the livestream here.

3. Political agenda-setting – making the case for Arctic protection:
Using the scientific evidence from the expedition to strengthen the case for why we should protect our oceans, we will continue to call on leaders and policymakers to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and long-term protection of the Arctic deep sea.

This is not just an expedition; it is a mission to what might be the origin of life itself. In the Arctic deep sea, time moves differently, ancient species thrive in the dark, and the very secrets of how life began are locked in geothermal oases along the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge. While the world above warms, this hidden wilderness still remains a silent guardian of our climate. If not protected, we risk irreversible damage to thousands and even million year old ecosystems that can not be re-built – it will likely be gone forever. We are diving down there to document what we cannot afford to lose, and to secure a global marine sanctuary in these high seas. Join us as we uncover the secrets of the deep to protect its future.

Listen to the science. Protect the deep sea.

Deep Arctic Expedition

Join Greenpeace and world-leading scientists as we explore the fascinating deep sea in the Arctic.

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