Photo by hannahreyesmorales / A girl watches the sunset from Baseco in Tondo, the largest district in Manila and home to a sprawling slum community. Here, where the Pasig River meets Manila Bay, much of the megapolis’s trash flows into the Philippine Sea. The Philippines is among the worst nations in the world for plastic pollution and is also home to more species of marine life than nearly anywhere else on Earth. This part of Manila is one of the most densely populated places in the world, and coastal communities like this are among the most vulnerable to sea-level rise, storm surges, and other climate-related disasters. From urban riversides to remote fishing villages to bustling coral reefs, life in the Philippine archipelago is deeply interdependent. The survival of all is inextricably intertwined not just with the sea but also with the worsening climate crisis. Written by insidenatgeo explorer and writer Nicola Sebastian (nicolaseabass). Follow me hannahreyesmorales for more stor...