Category Archives: In the news

Climate change ‘most extreme’ this decade

The atolls and islands of Kiribati are not more than a few meters above sea level. Photo: Finn Frandsen, Politiken

The world experienced “unprecedented high-impact climate extremes” between 2001 and 2010 and more national temperature records were broken during that period than in any other decade, the United Nations reports.

The report, The Global Climate 2001-2010, A Decade of Extremes, says the first decade of the 21st century was the warmest for both hemispheres and for both land and ocean temperatures since measurements began in 1850. High temperatures were accompanied by a rapid decline in Arctic sea ice, and an accelerating loss of the ice sheets of the world’s glaciers.

“Rising concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are changing our climate, with far reaching implications for our environment and our oceans, which are absorbing both carbon dioxide and heat,” said Michel Jarraud, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which produced the report.

Extreme Floods, droughts and tropical cyclones were all experienced across the world throughout the decade, and more than 370,000 people died as a result of these, representing a 20 per cent increase in casualties from the previous decade.

Floods were the most frequently experienced extreme events over the course of the decade. Eastern Europe, India, Africa, and Australia were particularly affected, as well as Pakistan, where 2,000 people died and 20 million were affected by floods in 2010.

Read the full article on UN NEWs Centre
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Met seeks funds to re-open stations

Climate data management training, Kiribati Meteorology Service.

Climate data management training, Kiribati Meteorological Service.

The Kiribati Meteorological Service hopes to secure donor support to re-open four of its weather offices now closed due to obsolete equipment, Islands Business has reported.

Ueneta Toorua, the only meteorologist on the island shared with regional colleagues in Nadi this week some of the challenges faced by the Met Office in providing timely weather information to its citizens.

Kiribati Meteorological Service official homepage
Map of operational and non-operational weather offices in Kiribati

He said the four stations in the outer islands are crucial in monitoring and analyzing data on what’s happening in these islands.

“Now we are looking for support and funding to reopen these stations, especially to get data for climate monitoring and climate analysis.(sic)

Toorua admits the weather stations were closed after the Met Office in Kiribati was nationalized.

Read the full story at Island Business

Cultural identity theme to 34th Independence

Last year’s Independence Day celebrations at Bairiki. Photo: Contributed.

Kiribati Adaptation Program – Phase III (KAPIII) applauds the selection of this year’s Independence Anniversary theme, to ‘maintain cultural identity in development’ (‘babwaina te katei inanon te rikirake’).

KAPIII Project Manager Kautuna Kaitara said as a development project tasked to improve the resilience of Kiribati to the impacts of climate change, the KAPIII team was fully committed to upholding a culturally aware approach to all projects.

“KAPIII is tasked with increasing water supply and improving coastal protection in various local communities across the country and to ignore culture in any of these communities or projects would be very devastating,” Mr Kaitara said.

“I would like to congratulate the selection of 34th Independence Anniversary theme and hope it is reflected upon with some thought because our culture is very unique and without this identity Kiribati would be lost forever. Happy Independence celebrations to everyone.”

The Gilbert Islands became independent as Kiribati on 12 July 1979. In the Treaty of Tarawa, signed shortly after independence and ratified in 1983, the United States relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix Islands and those of the Line Islands that are part of Kiribati territory.

The 34th Independence Anniversary celebrations will feature an exciting and action-packed week of events, starting this Thursday 4 July, 2013 with the Inter Secondary School Competition at Bairiki Field.

Download the 34th Independence Anniversary – 2013 program (208KB, pdf)

Friday, the anniversary’s official day one, will see the continuation of the Inter Secondary School Competition from 7am as well as an early final inspection for gardening before the evening’s celebrations begin with the Opening Ceremony, live on Te Kabao BPA, at Bairiki Field from 7pm.

Key activities throughout the week include:

Day 2 (Saturday 6th July):

9am: Powerlifting, Bairiki Square
10am: JSS/Open Semi Final Soccer, Police Field Betio

Day 3 (Sunday 7 July):

7pm: Gospel songs competition, Bairiki Field

Day 4 (Monday 8 July):

11am: Wrestling Day one, Bairiki Field
11am: Weightlifting Day one, Bairiki Square
11am: Boat race, Bairiki Side
7pm: Open Talent, Bairiki Field

Day 5 (Tuesday 9 July):

9am: Wrestling Day two, Bairiki Field
9am: Soccer knockout SSS, Police Field Betio
9am to 5pm: Taekwando Final, KNYC
10am: Powerlifting Final, Bairiki Square
5pm: Cultural dancing Competition/JSS and SCC, Bairiki Field

Day 6 (Wednesday 10 July):

6pm: Beauty Contest, RKU Stadium

Day 7 (Thursday 11 July):

3pm: Boxing, Bairiki Volleyball Court
6pm: Battle of the Band (TSKL), RKU Stadium

Day 8 (Independence Day, 12 July, 2013):

From 6.30am at RKU Stadium
Finals from 10am at various locations

Download the 34th Independence Anniversary – 2013 program (208KB, pdf)

Normal to low rainfall for Kiribati

Sunset in Tarawa.

The Kiribati Meteorological Service Division of the Office of The President has released its latest quarterly climate outlook for Kiribati.

The outlook predicts normal to below rainfall (less than 198.5mm) across Kiribati from July to September, 2013.

In addition to this, in terms of the El Nino – Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the outlook reports neutral conditions will continue with the possibility of a La Nina to arrive later in the year.

“In most cases, La Nina (is) usually associated with suppressed rainfall within the Kiribati region,” the Kiribati Meteorological Service Division reported.

“Though a season cycle, Kiribati is currently in it’s (sic) dry season of May down to October.”

The full report, including a break-down of rainfall from each meteorological station in Kiribati, is available on the Kiribati Meteorological Service Division page under ‘seasonal climate information’.

Read more:

‘Overcrowding and climate change’

Reuters photojournalist David Gray visited South Tarawa recently, here’s what he had to say …

The ocean laps against a protective seawall outside the maternity ward at Kiribati’s Nawerewere Hospital, marshalling itself for another assault with the next king tide.

Inside, a basic clinic is crowded with young mothers and newborn babies, the latest additions to a population boom that has risen as relentlessly as the sea in a deeply Christian outpost where family planning is still viewed with skepticism.

It is a boom that threatens to overwhelm the tiny atoll of South Tarawa as quickly as the rising seas. Some 50,000 people, about half of Kiribati’s total population, are already crammed onto a sand and coral strip measuring 16 sq km (6 sq miles).

“Climate change is a definite long-term threat to Kiribati, there’s no doubt whatsoever about that,” says Simon Donner, a climate scientist at the University of British Columbia who has been visiting South Tarawa since 2005.

“But that doesn’t mean it’s the biggest problem right now … Any first-time visitor to Tarawa is not struck by the impacts of sea level rise, they’re struck by how crowded it is.”

Read the full article and view the pictures at news.yahoo.com
Read the South Tarawa Island Report for more detailed information on South Tarawa
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Kiribati selects climate change framework

Key Note Address By Hon. Vice President, Teima Onorio

(On the occasion of the Nansen Initiative Pacific Regional Consultations, Edgewater Resort, Rarotonga, May 21 – 25 2013)

Jodtjif Nansen said and I quote “Nothing great and good can be furthered without international cooperation” and might I add through friendship and with respect.

Chair,

Our gracious host HE Henry Puna, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands,

I recognize the presence of HE Sprent Dabwido, President of Nauru,

Deputy Prime Ministers,

Honourable Ministers,

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen,

I bring to you warm greetings from the Government and people of Kiribati.

Kam na bane ni mauri and Kia orana!

Gratitude

Allow me Chair, to reciprocate the friendship and warm hospitality extended to us and members of our delegations by thanking most sincerely HE Prime Minister Puna, the Government and the people of the Cook Islands: “Meitaki Ma’ata!”

Let me extend my country’s and my own heartfelt gratitude to the movers of the Nansen Initiative, Norway and Switzerland and to the other members of the Initiative Steering Group and the European Union for their contributions to this important initiative.

I wish also to thank the organisers of these consultations, Nansen Initiative Secretariat staff and of course the Forum and SPREP for the excellent coordination to this event.

Kiribati attaches the highest importance to this consultation and follow up activities and I wish to convey President Tong’s support and apologies for being unable to attend due to a prior engagement and on whose behalf, I present this statement.

Kiribati Perspective

Kiribati has decided on a Climate Change and Climate Change Adaptation framework as a response to adapt to the slow onset of climate change and sea level rise, the framework that has the consensus and mandate of the people. The Framework outlines that (with the exception of Tuvalu and the Republic of the Marshall Islands), Kiribati will always be different when compared with other countries in the region, the difference of having no land to retreat to. That is, if the catastrophe is inevitable, we need to prepare ourselves and our people for eventual migration.

Kiribati has also embarked on radical changes to improve course offerings for training and upskilling in the technical and vocational skills areas to prepare our population in the event that if they wish to migrate, they do so with dignity. These include, the improvements of the technical and vocational programs accredited to International standards to prepare our young people for competition in the global labor market such as the; TVET upskilling and training (Australian standards) and infrastructure expansion; Maritime Training for Merchant and Fishing seafarers (STCW 95 approved); Nursing Training (require alignment with international standards); Kiribati Teachers’ College and the Police Service.

Movement of People within Boarders and Regionally

Within our national boarder, social obligation has seen families providing refuge in their homes and on their lands, providing family members to relocate to, due to massive coastal erosions. A number of villages, public buildings

and schools have been relocated due to extreme spring tides and severe coastal erosions. The alarming rate of coastal erosion that has been reported for the past two years has given rise to massive landmass loss, hence, have raised grave concerns for the Government.

The Seasonal Employment Programmes in Australia and in New Zealand through exposure of IKiribati people participating in the programs, provide life experience and working conditions outside of Kiribati and cultural norms which are different from the local setting. Positive initiatives by the labour receiving countries have shown the willingness to provide on the ground training for the workers whilst on assignment that add knowledge and skill areas, should migration eventuate. The other important project that involves the upskilling of English skills for primary school teachers will also form a firm foundation for the trade courses offered at TVET institutions, as students progress from formal education. These are small, but important stepping stones towards eventual migration.

At this juncture, allow me Chair to acknowledge with appreciation the ongoing seasonal work programs with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.

Regional Relevance

The most recent water shortage in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the floods in the Fiji Islands, the tsunami that hit Samoa and Tonga, hurricanes which swept up Tubuai in Maohi Nui, Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, the Solomon Islands, Wallis and Futuna, the northern and eastern sides of the Fiji Islands and surrounding island groups, all figure in the scope of natural disasters that will see the displacement of people within respective boarders and assistance is needed to provide proper protection for those affected. This protection is essential as the young population from Kiribati and the region alike, begin to migrate on their own with the sound knowledge of climate change and what is in store for them, in the future.

I have highlighted the Kiribati perspective which I have no doubt can be put into context by any of the neighboring countries with little or no difference in the island vulnerable experiences, we all are facing.

Protection Agenda

The Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda kick starts the discussion on what potential recipient countries would need to consider outside of national legal frameworks when imposed upon by forcefully removed people. There are serious questions that need to be answered and I know the Protection Agenda will be agreed to and it is my genuine hope that as we progress with the consultations, we are able to provide insights from our individual country experiences.

The Initiative has shown that indeed there is social responsibility in the international community and that our efforts at the national levels to address internal movement of people affected by the sudden and slow onset of climate change and sea level rise are starting to receive international attention. The Protection Agenda is a soft but essential measure as it addresses a legal gap that exists amongst others, in the protection of displaced people outside of national borders.

The Stage is Set

The outcomes document of COP 18 highlights and correctly so the importance of cooperation between all nations that puts in place a platform of friendship and collaboration upon which adaptation activities may be launched.

Setting aside the character of the disaster to be used as a basis to trigger assistance and replacing it with a more appropriate and practical approach of determining whether or not the disaster in any form triggers displacement, is a better measure. The Nansen Initiative has responded to the challenge and invitation in paragraph 14(f) of the Cancun Outcome Agreement.

Challenge

The international community is engaging and I acknowledge with appreciation their ongoing support and I challenge us all to be candid in our country specific experiences. I wish the consultations and deliberations in these few days a success with fruitful outcomes for the benefit of our respective peoples.

To conclude, let me bestow upon us all, our traditional Kiribati blessings of Te Mauri (Peace), Te Raoi (Health) ao te Tabomoa (Prosperity).

Kam bati n rabwa, Thank you very much!

Kiribati seeks more from regionalism

Former Kiribati president and member of the Eminent Persons group which framed the original political vision for the Pacific Plan, the Hon Teburoro Tito MP, chats with the Review team’s Peter Bazeley about the significance of the Biketawa Declaration.

The Pacific Plan Review consulted Kiribati stakeholders in in early May, 2013, meeting politicians, senior government officials, the Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Kiribati Association of NGOs, as well as the country’s bilateral and multilateral development partners. The team was also privileged to meet Kiribati’s first president and former PIFS Secretary General, the Hon Sir Ieremia Tabai.

Once again the often parlous situation in which the smaller island states find themselves was emphasised, as was the disproportionate difficulty that the small central Pacific islands – in particular – have in connecting with the region and economic opportunity. “Can we not aspire at least to be equal members of the Pacific community?”, a senior diplomat questioned.

Kiribati has always played an active role in promoting regionalism, as it did in shaping the original vision of what turned into the Pacific Plan –including the concept of perhaps eventually sharing sovereignty on some key areas.

While in Kiribati, the Review was reminded of the significance of the Biketawa Declaration signed by Forum leaders under Kiribati’s chairmanship in 2000. This Declaration committed members to a set of regional values on rights and good governance and institutionalised, for the first time, the principles of collective action across the Forum to address regional crises and other critical issues.

However Kiribati stakeholders questioned how well served they and other smaller island states are, now, by the Pacific Plan and the institutions that surround it.

Kiribati applies to join G77

Kiribati President His Excellency Anote Tong announced his Government’s intent to apply for membership of the G77.

At the second day of the G77 high level meeting in Fiji earlier this week, His Excellency announced a forthcoming application and told the summit he believed G77 could assist Kiribati in campaigning for help to deal with rising sea levels and climate change..

“I think it would lend greater force to the advocacy that we have been campaigning on,” His Excellency said.

The G77 is the United Nations’ grouping for poor and developing countries.

Find out more about G77

The Children Take Action: book

A new book The Children Take Action – a Climate Change Story will be distributed to every primary school in Kiribati in order to improve literacy skills and help children learn the basics of climate change and its impacts on our environment.

The book, which is available in English and te-Kiribati, is as an ideal resource to accompany the new syllabus and teacher guides currently being developed for Kiribati primary schools, according to the Curriculum Development and Resource Centre (CDRC).

The new syllabus integrates key elements of climate change using education for sustainable development principles to work towards the nation’s vision to “nurture our children and young people to become wise and worthwhile citizens able to adapt to, and participate in, their changing world”.

To date, 6,000 copies of the book have been given to the CDRC to distribute to primary schools.

The Children Take Action – a Climate Change Story

A sample of the book reads:

Jone didn’t know what climate change was and asked his grandfather to explain. Grandpa told Jone that the Earth’s temperature is becoming hotter. “My temperature gets hot when I am unwell,” said Jone. “Yes!” said Grandpa. “The Earth is becoming unwell too. There is less food for the birds and the fish. That is why they are leaving our island.” “What is making the Earth sick?” Jone asked. “We are,” said Grandpa. “Gases from our cars, buses and factories are making the Earth too hot.” “People are driving more cars and building more factories. So the Earth is getting hotter and hotter.” “Just like putting too many blankets on me!” said Jone.

The story was developed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and 1500 copies were printed with funding from the Australian International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative. The book has since been translated into te-Kiribati and 6360 copies printed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)/Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region Programme.

The overall curriculum review is being supported under the Kiribati Education Improvement Programme (KEIP) of the Ministry of Education (supported by AusAID, UNESCO, UNICEF and NZAid)

Climate change a ‘whole nation approach’

During a recent visit to Australia, President Tong spoke with Nic Maclellan from Islands Business about global warming, climate migration, the Pacific Islands Forum and Kiribati’s role in regional fisheries negotiations.

In 2010, Kiribati hosted an international conference in Tarawa to focus attention on climate impacts in the Pacific. Since then, do you think progress on a global climate treaty has stalled?

Our experience has not been entirely optimistic. After the Copenhagen meeting, there was a lot of disappointment. Much of our disappointment was based on our high expectations of what the outcomes might be. Like any major international treaty, it doesn’t happen overnight, or even after a couple of years or even ten years. I think we have major treaties in place which took decades to conclude. With the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, I don’t think we’ll conclude until we change our approach. It’s always been my contention that we’re dealing with too much detail in a document that’s highly controversial because the issues are very critical to different countries at different levels of development. My view has been to agree on a broad document and then deal with issues on a piecemeal basis. Unless we do that, our hopes for success are very dim. Quite frankly, I’m beginning to think that perhaps we should not put everything in those discussions. Perhaps, we should now begin to explore existing arrangements and simply add provisions into those agreements relating to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Does this mean that negotiations should move from the UNFCCC to another body like the Major Economies Forum or G20 where the members are the major emitters of greenhouse gasses? Will this leave the Alliance of Small Islands States out of the dialogue?

I think the key to all of this is our genuine desire to resolve this. If there is a genuine desire, then we will find a way. Compromise is always possible but there has got to be a genuine desire to compromise. Without this, whatever forum we adopt, it will not work. Whatever agreement the developed countries come to, AOSIS and the other developing countries will find fault with it.

It’s a matter of finding commonalities rather than arguing over controversial issues at this time. We need to build up confidence in the way we want to head, and if we do that, then perhaps the possibilities of reaching consensus might be there.

Read the full story at www.islandsbusiness.com