Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate change is an issue which is affecting people globally but its major impacts are seen in the Pacific. The Pacific, which is just a small dot on the world map is now facing the drastic effects of climate change. One of the Pacific Island Country facing major threat due to climate change is Kiribati. It is indeed, very sad to say that our small beautiful island nation is in real danger of diminishing.
Lets  look at Kiribati: 

 We are among the most vulnerable of the vulnerable. Even a marginal increase in sea levels will be disastrous for our country's future. It is doubtful that any other country feels the effects of climate change as much as we do. In Kiribati, the entire nation faces real danger—our own survival is at stake as a people, as a unique and vibrant culture and as a sovereign nation.

Some of the effects of climate change in Kiribati are: Degradation of fresh water supply, erosion of coastal areas, degradation of arable land and crop and harmful effects on public health.

Fresh water is in very short supply in Kiribati due to salt water intrusion. Climate change has led to all the fresh water in wells being mixed up in salt water.

The whole of the island nation of Kiribati is coastal. Right now the i-kiribati are experiencing massive coral erosion. This had caused them to move their homes more inland. 

It has also led to major health problems in Kiribati. Some of the health problems are diarrhoea, malnutrition and dengue fever. This has rapidly increased in Kiribati due to increase in temperature and change in rainfall.

However, we can't say that Kiribati is sitting idle. They are playing their role. This could be proved through the various strategies that they have  adapted to cope with climate change.

CSP Education Manager and World Wild Life Fund (WWF) Climate Change Witness, Ben Namakin talks 

of the adaptation strategies.

There is an agreement between the Australian and the Kiribati Government to send students from Kiribati to study in Australia to do Nursing Programme.

Upon completion of the Programme, students can stay there and contribute to the economy of the country they are sent to.

A total of 70 students are sent every year however, this Programme has eventually stopped from this year.

Namakin said if this is the way the adaptation strategy works then what about the ones who are uneducated, what about the ones who do not go to school only survive over the ocean and over the land. “How are they going to contribute to Australia’s economy if they are to relocate to Australia one day?,” he said.

This is very sad to say that our "own" neighbouring countries are not willing to help us. When they are the ones who have played a major role in contributing to climate change.