Climate change is having many impacts, but perhaps the most worrying of these is the rise in sea levels expected through ocean warming and melting of polar sea ice. Climate change is being caused by the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHG), caused by the burning of fossil fuels, which is impacting upon the Greenhouse Effect. The tiny nation of Kiribati, located in the central Pacific Ocean, is perhaps one of the most vulnerable nations on earth to be affected by climate change. Comprising a land area of only 800 square kilometers, its coral atolls and reef islands are particularly susceptible to a rise in sea level. Kiribati’s islands are extremely low lying, have no surface water or well developed soils and extremely fragile groundwater systems. If the sea level was to rise to any significant degree, the people of Kiribata would have no land on which to grow crops and a tainted water supply. They are also at risk of losing their nationhood, because it is entirely possible that their islands will become submerged and other threats induced by climate change, such as coastal inundation and more frequent storms and precipitation, will pose a danger to the country.
The recently deposed President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, considered that the only way for his people to survive was to emigrate, and had been purchasing land in other countries in order to retain their nationhood. The people of Kiribata have also been considering immigration so such countries as New Zealand and Australia, in order to retain their national identity and self determination. The inundation scenario in this country has consequences for universal human rights and international law. If a nation cannot live on or return to their homeland, are they still a nation? Those who choose to migrate have no protection under the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 195114 ("the Refugee Convention") or complementary protection measures at international law.
Works Cited
Churches, World Council of. “Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Republic of Kiribati.” 2014.
EPA. Greenhouse Gases. 21 8 2015. January 2016. <http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/basics/today/greenhouse-gases.html>.
Lagan, B. “Australia urged for formally recognise climate refugee status.” The Guardian 16 April 2013.
Mathez, E.A. Climate Change : The Science of Global Warming and Our Energy Future. New York: Columbia University Press, 2009. Online.
UN. Climate change ‘threatens self-determination’ of citizens in island States, UN rights council told. 2015 March 2015. <http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50257#.Vi3A0rcrLIU>.
Wyett, K. “Escaping a Rising Tide: Sea Level Rise and Migration in Kiribati.” Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 1 (2014): 171-185.
