Those who argue that the effects of global warming have been “Hollywoodized” by celebrities such as Al Gore, and popular media outlets, will likely rethink their statements after reading about the fate of the island of Kiribati. ABC News aired an in depth report about Kiribati’s future this evening.
Kiribati is situated at an elevation of six feet, and with each passing day its footprint above the sea is shrinking. While the ocean will not simply rise fifty feet overnight, any change in sea level threatens the livelihood of the flora and fauna on this island due to its small size and incredibly close proximity to the ocean. Ocean water kills any land-based flora within fifty feet of its path, and the vegetation inland is dying back more each day. Homes are being relocated, and the number of Kiribati refugees is increasing daily. Equally important, the President of Kiribati reports that the island will likely become completely submerged by mid-century, a timeframe that is very scary; it is unlikely that this nation can be kept from sinking entirely.
New Zealand is the only country to currently publicly accept climate change refugees. New Zealand accepts 75 refugees from Kiribati per year, while the President grimly reported that tens of thousands of citizens will lose their homes.
And what will happen to these people, their sovereignty, their identity – as climate change literally removes their homeland from the surface of the earth? They have no military forces, and their consumption of natural resources is very low in comparison with other nations (including adjustment for population size). Surely they must be impossibly frustrated, as elevated levels of greenhouse gases from others’ activities are destroying their home. The President brought his concerns to the U.N.; while the rich may be able to insulate themselves from the problem initially, this is a global humanitarian crisis that we must face together.
April 2, 2007 at 11:18 pm
[…] While “first world” countries can adapt to changes in climate and weather, at least initially (example: Texas constructed a desalinization plant to treat ocean water as water supplies become threatened), “third world” countries cannot (such Malawi in Africa and the island of Kiribati). […]
April 3, 2007 at 12:09 am
[…] countries of world bear a responsibility to as a unified group take in refugees like those from Kiribati: New Zealand is the only nation to publicly accept climate change refugees – from Kiribati they […]
April 3, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Hi there,
You’re blog posting presented an issue that is all too close to home.
I live on a little island in the South Pacific called “Badu”. It is part of the Torres Strait which lies between the Australian mainland and Papua New Guinea. It is a part of Australia. The people that live here are mostly Melanesian. Their ancestors have lived here for tens of thousands of years.
Unfortunately, for many Torres Strait islanders, climate change is a looming disaster. Here is a report by Australia’s peak government science body (CSIRO) on the potential impact to Torres Strait culture.
Click to access greendl_2006a.pdf
and a newspaper article based on the same report:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/going-under/2006/08/11/1154803102254.html
The people up here have a deep understanding of tidings, bird and marine migrations, weather patterns etc. This could all be grossly disturbed. SOme of the islands up here are only 1-2 metres above sea level.
It makes me very sad to think about it. How can we do this to our planet and our people. Thanks for carrying the flag.
April 7, 2007 at 12:40 am
[…] sampling of the week: EPA ordered by Supreme Court to regulate greenhouse gases, islands in the South Pacific are sinking due to rising sea levels, NYT article about the American southwest’s looming water crisis, The IPCC releases the next […]
May 28, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Global warming began 18,000 years ago as the last ice age ended. Perhaps the rise in sea level is more the result of the expansion of sea water due to natural warming by the sun. 95% of the co2 in the Earth’s atmosphere is from natural sources unrelated to human activities. In reality man’s activities adds 0.05% of the total co2 in our atmosphere. Check out the REAL scientific research.
May 29, 2007 at 12:25 am
Hi Gary,
I always welcome comments, however, I don’t really understand where you are getting these stats., etc., and obviously feel strongly that you are very wrong. As does the scientific community, so I don’t really know where you’d be getting this misinformation.
For one thing, the end of the last ice age was more like 14,000 years ago.
AND let’s just say that global warming is happening and we are not exploring who or what is responsible, the developing nations on our planet will bear the brunt of the consequence of global warming and rising sea levels – and we need to address this on some international level – which we are not doing yet – and that was the point of this entry.
I am not game to just argue a/b global warming and human effects.
August 13, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Alisha, there are people who Google around looking for posts about human-affected global warming in order to post denials. Some of them are even paid to do this. “While the rich may be able to insulate themselves from the problem initially, this is a global humanitarian crisis that we must face together” — well put. Let’s all work together on this.
risa b
August 14, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Risa,
Thanks for visiting. That is terrible that people go around and post strange things, and are paid for it. Sad that they’re paid. Even worse, are the “scientists” or researchers funded by oil and gas companies that do “research” and publish “findings” that say global warming is not caused by human activity. These people are criminals, holding us back from transitioining to a more sustainable livelihood that is ultimately better for us economically as well. The oil and gas companies are petrified (no pun intended…) that they’ll lose out if we use alternative energy – and desperate to keep control of our global society.
Check out Newsweek’s article: “Global Warming Deniers: A Well Funded Machine” for more on this.
An exerpt: “Individual companies and industry associations—representing petroleum, steel, autos and utilities, for instance—formed lobbying groups with names like the Global Climate Coalition and the Information Council on the Environment.”
August 19, 2007 at 9:21 am
global warming is becoming such a obvious problem that someone somewhere other than Al Gore needs to step up to help drive the bus!
January 9, 2008 at 3:11 am
Alisha, and all,
Thank you for posting this on the web. I am originally from Kiribati and a climate change activist from the Pacific.
Yes, I have done speaking tour in the US about global warming to make US citizens realise that there are actually islands with indigenous communities living in the pacific ocean. I also spoke on behalf of the youth delegation at the COP meeting in Montreal. My talks are all about seeking help and support to push the white house and other most developed countries to help us come up with options.I gave a speech in Bali at the side event, along with other vulnerable communities just to make the world understand that we are first hand witnessing the effects and we feel it. I am still sad that US, Canada and Japan (father of Kyoto) kept on blocking such positive negotiation and especially for their support for us with the adaptation fund. Frustrating! Please help us to lobby those presidential candidates so they consider ratifying Kyoto Protocol whoever wins the election.
Thanks to all for your concern for Kiribati and the Pacific Islands.
Ben Namakin
April 6, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Namasté and thank you for the data about Kiribati, which I linked to as a proof of global warming and its effects.
I’m from Canada. It’s said we are the country who will experience the most important effects of global warming. We also have a major source of pollution, namely the bitumen-laden sands in Alberta. We now have a Conservative minority government whose electorate is based strongly in Western Canada, including Alberta (and of course wants to stay in power). And of course some of those voters are rednecks who don’t believe pollution is a problem nd who insist on driving a big truck even if they don’t need it (and tote a gun sometimes). This government has shamed all Canadians by reneging on its signature of the Kyoto Protocol.
Personally, I’m a French-speaking woman from Quebec, where Kyoto is very popular.
This winter we had our first real winter in more than 15 years. We had a record snowfall, there is still 3 to 4 feet of snow on the lawn as I write this (not in the middle of the street, though). The people who deny global warming quickly jumped on this as a proof that global warming is a lie. As if one year was enough. They also conveniently forget that the first sign of warming is greater weather extremes. The number and severely of hurricanes and tornadoes (even in January!)in the US is proof to the contrary.
Al Gore was here in Montreal (where I live)last Friday, by the way.
April 23, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I am from Pohnpei State, Federated State of the Micronesia(FSM), and I am just a student of the College of the Micronesian-FSM. Also,thanks for posting your information about global warmig becase I am one of the allies who is trying to fight and solve global warming.
We must wake up from our blindness and sleepiness and laziness and start facing the dangerous dragons that will roam around the world. By mean this, we human beeings should started to bring up all possible solutions for global warming and apply the soltutions to our communities and states or araund the world.
As a Mirconesian, We uses some of our old ways that will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. For example, some Micronesians is still using Traditional Navigation. Mirconesian ride canoes from one Island to Another. We walk from place to place.
Unfortunately, western technologies are dominating the Micronesian old ways. We ride cars instead of walking. We travel on planes and boats instead of tradtional navigation.
Today modern technologies are more convenient to Micronedsians contributing the climate change. However some Micronesians provoke it and I am one of them. I am gladly to take action on Global Warming. I am educting my younger teen friends in my community how to reduce CO2 in their daily habits.
August 3, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Thanks for posting this issue which helped me to carry out my assignment concerning climate change effects to Kiribati.
Actually, I’m also from Kiribati currently schooling at KGV & EBS High School. After reading various published issues about global warming, I instantly wished to choose CLIMATE CHANGE AND KIRIBATI as my topic to investigate more so I am grateful for publishing this issue.
Thanks Publsher
December 7, 2008 at 9:06 am
Thank you for your article.
I am currently apart of a research team for an upcoming documentary which deals with the effects of climate change in the pacific islands. Are there any websites, research sources that you found particularly helpful in your research for this article.
Lauren
July 28, 2009 at 4:38 am
NewZealand does not accept “climate change refugees”. Never has.
July 28, 2009 at 12:00 pm
MJField – take a look at this article published in May of 2009 – in the NYTimes no less – that articulates NZ does in fact have a plan, and is formulating a plan, to accept climate refugees:
“New Zealand established a “Pacific Access Category” with guidelines that mirror the rules for any émigré, opening its borders to a limited annual quota of some 400 able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 45 who have no criminal records.”
December 5, 2010 at 1:36 pm
i rarely reply in blogs, but there is a few that i follow a lot.
thank you for your postings, love them. קידום אתרים
December 5, 2010 at 1:38 pm
very interesting, glad i ran into your posting. קידום אתרים
December 5, 2010 at 1:40 pm
like X3 :] great posting. קידום אתרים
June 16, 2014 at 9:20 pm
Thanks…Im so sick of the scare which will shut down the productive part of our, and others, economies. This scare actually INCREASES CO2 output by moving production to primitive producers who pollute dozens of times as much per item.
June 17, 2014 at 4:43 am
…along the lines of reducing pollution AND helping developing countries, the developed countries should HELP the undeveloped countries get up to speed on pollution controls by GIVING them business (and footing startup funding) IF AND WHEN the undeveloped countries incorporate latest pollution controls. IF the undeveloped countries will thrn NOT incorporate latest pollution control practices. …REDUCE the business they get.