Kiribati's 2005 CO2 emissions (other greenhouse gas data was not reported) were lower than any other country except one. Per capita emissions that year were only 7% of the global average and less than 2% of U.S. per capita emissions. Low-carbon technologies in Kiribati are therefore more beneficial to promote development than to mitigate climate change.

With very little fossil fuel use and high susceptibility to climate climate effects, Kiribati is much more focused on adapting to rather than mitigating climate change.

Kiribati is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change and sea level rise. Most of the land in urban Tarawa is less than 3 meters above sea level; the island has an average width of only 450 meters, rendering retreat adaptation options untenable. This situation is typical of most islands in the country. The islands are exposed to periodic storm surges and droughts, particularly during La Niña years, although they lie outside the cyclone path. Already, Kiribati is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate events due to its high population concentration, accelerated coastal development, shoreline erosion, and rising environmental degradation.

By 2050, if no adaptation measures are undertaken, Kiribati could face economic damages due to climate change and sea level rise of US$8-$16 million a year, equivalent to 17-34 percent of its 1998 GDP. To address these rising risks, the Government of Kiribati is undertaking an Adaptation Program, supported by the World Bank, the Global Environmental Facility, AusAID and NZAID.

Kiribati Adaptation Program (KAP)

The Kiribati Adaptation Program (KAP) is a US $5.5 million initiative that was originally enacted by the national government with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and the Japanese Government. Australia later joined the coalition, donating US $1.5 million to the effort. The program aims to take place over 6 years, supporting measures that reduce Kiribati’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change and sea level rise by raising awareness of climate change, assessing and protecting available water resources, and managing inundation. At the start of the Adaptation Program, representatives from each of the inhabited atolls identified key climatic changes that had taken place over the past 20-40 years, and proposed coping mechanisms to deal with these changes under 4 categories of urgency of need. The program is now focusing on the country’s most vulnerable sectors in the most highly populated areas. Initiatives include improving water supply management in and around Tarawa; coastal management protection measures such as mangrove re-plantation and protection of public infrastructure; strengthening laws to reduce coastal erosion; and population settlement planning to reduce personal risks.

The Kiribati Adaptation Program (KAP) is being implemented in three phases:

• Phase I: Preparation (2003-2005, completed). This phase began the process of mainstreaming adaptation into national economic planning and identified priority pilot investments for Phase II. It also involved an extensive process of national consultation and was closely linked with the preparation of the 2004-07 National Development Strategy and Ministry Operational Plans, and the compilation of the National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) which was completed in early 2007.
• Phase II: Pilot Implementation (2006-2010). The objective of this current phase is to develop and demonstrate the systematic diagnosis of climate-related problems and the design and implementation of cost-effective adaptation measures, while continuing the integration of climate risk awareness and responsiveness into economic and operational planning. These illustrations summarise the KAP II projects that are underway (click on either of them to view a larger image):

• Phase III: Expansion (2010-2015). Many lessons are being learnt in the current Phase II and these are informing the design and preparation of an expanded programme for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) which will incorporate Disaster Risk Reduction (DDR) measures which, in Kiribati in particular, are closely linked to CCA initiatives.

Adaptation achievements to date

The World Bank has praised The Government of the Republic of Kiribati for being a "a global leader in laying the groundwork for dealing with the threat from natural hazards since the mid-1990s", although the original cause of the escalation of these "hazards" in recent times is anthropologically-induced climate change, rather than naturally occurring climatic events.

Beyond 2010

The Government of Kiribati intends that the follow on project will focus on two priority areas: water resource management and coastal resilience. These are the two top priorities identified in the NAPA as well as the focus of ongoing KAPII pilot programs implemented in conjunction with government ministries. A scaling up of successful pilot projects would support the overarching goal of mainstreaming adaptation to climate change and disaster risk reduction into core aspects of Kiribati economic and social development.

All external KAP reports will be made available here.

The science is clear - climate change threatens the long-term survival of Kiribati.  As such, the Kiribati Government acknowledges that relocation of our people may be inevitable.  It would be irresponsible to acknowledge this reality and not do anything to prepare our community for eventual migration in circumstances that permit them to migrate with dignity.  That said, relocation will always be viewed as an option of last resort.  We will do all that we can to preserve Kiribati as a sovereign and habitable entity.  At the same time, if relocation becomes necessary and nothing has been done to ready people for the move, it will not be possible to rapidly relocate over 100,000 people in a way that preserves the dignity of those being relocated and minimises the burden on the receiving countries.

The relocation strategy of the Kiribati Government has two key components.  Firstly, opportunities must be created to enable the migration of those who wish to do so now and in the coming years.  This will assist in establishing expatriate communities of I-Kiribati, who will be able to absorb and support greater numbers of migrants in the longer term.  It will also benefit those who remain by lifting the levels of remittances.  Secondly, the levels of qualifications able to be obtained in Kiribati will be raised to those available in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.  This will make qualified I-Kiribati more attractive as migrants, but will also improve the standards of services available locally.

The concept of 'migration with dignity' is crucial to the effectiveness of the Government's relocation policy.  I-Kiribati migrants should be sought after by the countries to which they wish to relocate.  For this to happen our people must be in a position to provide the skills that are needed in the receiving countries. This creates a 'win-win' situation, where both Kiribati and the receiving country benefit.