Kiribati’s Plans to Avoid Forced Climate Migration as Sea Levels Continue to Rise
Rising sea levels could lead to the sinking of Kiribati, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean. The Kiribati government establishes plans to protect its citizens from this climate crisis.
Illustration by Maddy Smith.
The melting of ice sheets and glaciers combined with the expansion of seawater as temperature increases has resulted in the rise of sea levels by approximately 20cm in the last century. According to the NASA website, the sea level varies with a rate of change of 3.3mm per year. One could wonder why such a change is so prominent. The rise of sea level impacts significantly the coastal ecosystem and about 40% of the Earth’s population is located in coastal areas. The number of high-tide floods has increased drastically (300-900%) in the last 50 years and has affected many populated areas. The USA has been attributing a vast majority of intense weather events to global warming. Furthermore, uninhabited, small islands, such as an islet off the coast of Japan in 2018, have already disappeared and scientists argue that many coastlines face similar threats.
Kiribati is considered to be one of the first sinking island nations due to the rising sea levels. It is located in the central Pacific Ocean and consists of 33 sand atolls (ring-shaped coral reefs surrounding a lagoon) with a population of 121,047 as of recent estimates. More than half of the population lives in the capital atoll, South Tarawa, with its highest point a couple of meters above sea level. Besides the coconut palms, which are omnipresent and play a crucial role in the nation’s diet, Kiribati imports most of its vegetables. In addition, the government’s budget is heavily dependent on international aid. For example, it is estimated that foreign sources made up 43% of the government’s budget in 2013. Despite this, the current government is dedicated to keeping the nation independent and free from foreign influence. Besides its vulnerability as a least developed country, Kiribati is also a climate-vulnerable nation.
Many villages in Kiribati are experiencing the severe consequences of climate change. Images of flooded villages, fallen coconut trees, and Kiribatians adapting to a new normal are frequent in the islands. A large percentage of households have already been affected. Another crucial issue is the lack of fresh water, which is essential not only for the residents but also for the survival of their crops. There are estimates that in a few decades, South Tarawa will not be suitable for life.
Some scientists argue that the Kiribati nation is not in danger of actually disappearing. They predict that the sand atolls will rise along with the sea levels. The future of the nation has been debated, but it is clear that action is required to ensure the well-being of the communities. Tong’s administration (2003-2016) has expressed the need for migration plans as the islands become unlivable. Tong played a significant role in raising awareness about the threats island nations face and demanded action from world leaders. The current president, Maamu, however, has said that the government’s objective is to ”put aside the misleading and pessimistic scenario of a sinking, deserted nation.”
Plans for climate migration and adaptation have been put in place to protect the Kiribati citizens from disasters, including flooding and famine. Two viable solutions proposed to ‘save’ Kiribati are artificial islands and coastal fortification. Artificial islands, such as ones created in Dubai, would require further support from wealthy countries due to the high cost. Locals have started to build walls using coral rocks, but these are not resilient to the strong tides. Others have decided to leave their land and migrate to other countries. Various nations, such as Australia, are encouraged to respond to the needs of the ‘sinking nation.’ One of them is New Zealand, which allows 75 Kiribatians per year into their country.
In 2014, the previous Kiribati government purchased land in Fiji. The reasoning was to provide refuge to 60,000-70,000 climate migrants from the Kiribati nation. The current government, though, has changed its course. The new plan for the land is to be used for farming, enabling Kiribati citizens to have a reliable supply of food as the climate changes. Maamu also expressed the need for some “technical assistance” from their diplomatic partner, China. Details of China’s involvement in tackling the crisis are still unclear. There have been speculations of military involvement, but the Kiribati president has denied the creation of any military base inland or at sea.
In addition, there are plans to elevate the island to offer further protection from the sea level rise. It will be accomplished using dredged sand and raising the roads. The government’s strategy is to secure dredgers from other countries, such as China and New Zealand. A downside to this approach is that dredging could impact the coral reef population of the marine ecosystem. It has the potential, however, to ensure the safety of the island nation for the next decade.
To conclude, the Kiribati nation could soon be one of the victims of global warming. The government is planning to enforce adaptation measures to protect its citizens and to avoid forced climate migration from the islands. Tong has said, “Climate change for most if not all of the countries in the Pacific is a survival issue. If we do not address the climate change challenge, all of our efforts in trying to achieve economic survival, economic viability all will come to naught”. Kiribati offers a notable example of how nations can aim to adapt to the changing climate. More importantly, it is an urgent wake-up call to take action and end global warming.
Theodora Varelidi-Strati
Theodora is a 2nd level Master’s graduate from Politecnico di Torino with a background in astrophysics. She loves reading, writing, and traveling. Having a keen interest in science communication, Theodora used to be a contributor at the Glasgow University Magazine. Recently, she attended the Oxford School of Climate Change, which inspired her to engage with environmental issues and solutions. She hopes to make a positive impact and science more accessible through writing.