Extreme weather events have been increasing in French Polynesia for several years. Coastal homes are frequently washed away, prompting authorities to carry out protective measures, such as reinforcing cliffs and building riprap to prevent further erosion. Some residents have already had to adapt. "It’s been unprecedented. The rise in water levels is now clearly noticeable, and the intensity and force are unlike anything we’ve experienced before," says a resident of Mahina, who has constructed riprap in front of his beachfront home. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES