By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
TARAWA, Kiribati – With rising sea levels in the South Pacific, the tiny nation of Kiribati may be forced to evacuate to neighboring countries, such as Taiwan.
The President of Taiwan visited Kiribati last week to meet with President Anote Tong and pledged his nation’s assistance should sea levels continue to rise. Mr. Ma Ying-jeou, who is concerned about the impacts of climate change, is touring nations in the Pacific with which it maintains diplomatic relations – Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Solomon Islands.
Climate change is a central focus of President Ma’s tour. In Kiribati and Tuvalu, climate change, according to some scientists, could cause islands, such as Kiribati and Tuvalu, to be completely submerged, thus posing a life-threatening situation.
In his meeting with Kiribati’s president, Mr. Ma said that Taiwan would “help seek possible solutions to the global warming that is causing rising sea levels that could eventually submerge Kiribati.”
The issue of climate refugees has been a big issue recently, particularly as a result of the destruction and deaths of many following several natural disasters. Last August, a typhoon which ripped through parts of southern Taiwan raised concerns about climate refugees.
A documentary, called “Plus or Minus Two Degrees Celsius”, was produced in Taiwan and called attention to this new phenomenon. The film predicts that if the environmental situation worsens, the people of Taiwan will be among the first to migrate as a result.
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) states that ten percent of the global population may be subjected to displacement as a result of climate change.
Many people living in Kiribati and other South Pacific Islands have ancestors who emigrated from Taiwan, thousands of years ago. President Tong of Kiribati said that these people “would probably return to Taiwan someday”.
Should their worst fears be realized, Kiribati’s government has a plan to relocate its entire population of 100,000 to other lands or an island under the control of other countries. It has also tried to lobby other countries for support in fighting climate change.
Some suggest that Taiwan help by allowing workers from Kiribati to enter the country. If the Kiribati government agrees to provide low-interest loans to Kiribati workers who wish to relocate to Taiwan, the proposed relocation plan will likely be implemented.
On the other hand, Tuvalu shares climate change concerns but is not as willing to implement a national relocation plan, because it may cause its people to panic.
Nations, such as Australia and New Zealand, currently allow immigrants from Kiribati. New Zealand’s immigration policy provides that a limited number of people from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Kiribati may enter New Zealand to obtain residency.
For more information please see:
Focus Taiwan – Climate refugees an issue for Taiwan – 25 March 2010
Radio New Zealand International – Tuvalu says Taiwan shares its climate change concerns – 24 March 2010
New York Times – Taiwan: Help for a Tiny Nation Facing Rising Waters – 23 March 2010
