How Kiribati is sinking and disappearing Due to Climate Change?

Republic of Kiribati is a sovereign state situated in the Oceania continent. Kiribati made of 33 islands and atolls. It is in the central Pacific Ocean. Kiribati capital is Tarawa, which is the most crowed city here. Many remnants of 2^nd world war are still available here. And it is well known for its handicrafts and folk dancing.

Flag of Kiribati

Kiribati Population

Over 110,000 call Kiribati their home more than half of them live in Kiribati capital. If you see it from sky it will look like a tropical paradise with the shades of imaginable green and blue. But on the ground it’s very different story. Kiribati people are suffering with high water level and tides. Half of their residents live in their capital called Tarawa which is at the highest altitude of 3 meters. Normal people other than their residents need to carry oxygen masks to survive here because it’s the peak point here. Kiribati is a country which have various artists, amazing weavers, skilled fisher mans, engineers and architects. Techniques for creating building and the equipment they use for fishing are very unique here from rest of the world.  Kiribati and English both are their official languages. But in rural and slum areas people normally use Kiribati language. People are here very warmest and friendliest across in the Pacific.

How Kiribati is affected with Climate Change?

Crumbled seawall, Destroyed Homes and Homeless People

Everything looks beautiful and amazing from the sky but on the ground story is very different. Requesting you to read carefully. Because their story is of people which are suffering badly due to climate change. These people are very near to convert in climate refugees and their country is sinking in water day by day. They are very close to disappear from the map. Kiribati will be the first victim of climate change.

Tides - Pixabay

In 21^st century many of you will be read this article and will be alive but this country Kiribati will be fully submerged under water. There was a sea wall until 2010 but it is so small now and getting washed away by waves every day. Few days ago there were some houses but now nobody knows where are those houses and people who lived in them. May be they have moved somewhere else because of tides but you can still see the remains of their houses. Around 5 years ago this place EITA just after sea wall was much crowed but now the place is just empty.

Photo by Pixabay

Roads in Kiribati and Transportation in Kiribati

Whole Kiribati runs through this single road

There is only single road which connects most points in country. The whole country and transports runs through it. You name it food, water, school kids, buses, trucks, workers, residents etc. But there is a huge problem now the road is very close to getting wiped out from the surface. Because whenever the waves come all the way up they forced the people to leave the road and sometimes wiped out some vehicles. You will always see some white sand right up to the tar.

Nobody cares about it, still in many countries and continents governments are selling forests to corporate are they are destroying the climate by making industries, houses, hotels etc. in forests and sea shores. They all thinks like its very far in future but come here in Kiribati it happened here right now. And as human being we all need to find solutions to save the lives of more than 100000 people. It’s truly heartbreaking to hear that.

What is coincidence with Kiribati Climate Change?

They are closest to International Date Line and live right on the crossroads of the equator. The coincidence is they are first people on the earth who watch the sunrise first every morning. Coincidently Kiribati is also the first country to affect with the real impact of climate change.

How Kiribati is fully dependent on ocean?

Their lives are fully dependent on ocean, they get work from it, food from it and now it’s seems possibly will die from it. So sad. The rising ocean is destroying their crops, fresh water ponds and forcing villagers to evacuate. Water levels are rampantly increasing here day by day. And which are directly affecting their personal lives and houses. Water waves are forcing people to leave their homes. In the meantime they are fighting with it and elevating the wall, they are physically building it himself.

Seawall is fully submerged under water

First in 2010 they noticed that there is some increase in water level and tides. So they started picking and putting the remains of their destroyed and broken houses on the wall. And they consider it as wall but still water from tides comes through it.  Trees are also affecting with tides, water still comes through it. People are still bravely fighting it but guess till when. It’s a truth and they have to accept it. They have started feeling like water is hitting hard on their house which is already not in the right conditions.

Kiribati People (Residents) are turning into Climate Refugees

This new term climate refugee is directly related to Kiribati People.  I am saying it now while many of you are not agree with me. But read my article after few years and talk to me than.

Government of Kiribati sending their young locals to Australia and New Zealand in the search of jobs. They are trying to prevent becoming a climate refugee.  They are looking for the options and trying to adopt the life outside Kiribati. This is the truth that nobody can avoid the consequences of climate change. Rising sea levels will definitely affects your lives as well as other extreme weather disasters which will occur due to climate change. Probably Kiribati will be completely submerged under water by 2100.

In the mean time when Kiribati disappears, many parts of Asia and Europe will convert into deserts. Coral reefs are disappearing, forests are ending. We ourselves are inviting natural disasters. It will become more frequent and severe after few years.

Kiribati is already too late. They have almost no option now. Probably near to disappear and sink. They are first who pay the price of rising water level and climate change. It seems like nobody here in India is serious about these consequences. We are inviting these disasters by not taking care of our environment, rain-forests and oceans. Our governments should take some steps to save the environment and climate instead of selling forests and seashores to industrialists.  When we will start taking it seriously. You all including me start asking yourselves, what kind of future you like to create for your grand-kids and coming generations.

If you don’t believe in these kinds of things like climate changes my friends go there and visit Kiribati you will witness yourself if you already believe in climate change still go there and experience their situation.  

What do you think climate change is a problem for coming days or years after no it’s a problem of today and even of now.

Promote Kiribati Tourism and help them to find a solution

Kiribati Peace Hand

One request you to all who are capable and are travel enthusiasts must visit Kiribati, it’s a beautiful country with full of historical and beautiful places around. Also Kiribati residents are very friendliest and good human beings.   It will directly help them and their economy to builds higher sea walls or to buy lands overseas to relocate and in sending their youngsters to search for a job abroad so that they can adopt life outside Kiribati.

Share this article as much as you can if you strongly feel climate change is a problem for now and will become more frequent and severe for generations to follow. This article is important information to make aware people about saving their environment and prevent the disasters of climate change.