vulnerability to climate change ( kiribati and bangladesh )

Kiribati info :

• An island ( central pacific )

• 130,000 population

• 33 atolls and reef islands

• Tarawa : capital

Why is Kiribati vulnerable?

• Sea lvl rise

• Saltwater intrusion into freshwater

• Coastal erosion

• Loss of habitable land

• Coral bleaching

• Ocean acidification

Specific example of Kiribati vulnerability ( sea lvl rise )

According to pacific climate chance science program ( PCCSP )

• Sea lvls rise by 3.2 mm per year since 1993

• Abaiang community has already been relocated due to coastal erosion/flooding

Specific example of Kiribati vulnerability ( freshwater contamination )

• Saltwater intrusion has compromised 60-80% of groundwater reserved in Tarawa ( capital )

• Rely on rain water collection/imported during drought

Specific example of Kiribati vulnerability ( Migration )

In 2014 Kiribati bought 6000 acres of land in Fiji To prepare for climate induced migration

• promotes education/skill building so they dont become ‘’climate refugess’’

Why is it hard for Kiribati to adapt to climate changes?

• limited economic resources

• Geographic isolation

• Small pop and limited institutional capacity

• Relies on international aid

What are the management strategies for Kiribati?

• international aid

• Education

• Land acquisition ( buying land in case it becomes inhabitable )

What are the migration patterns in Kiribati ?

• internal displacement (caused people to relocate from outer islands to main islands)

  Eg : Tarawa ( it suffers from over crowding and environmental stress )

• International migration ( to get better education/ employment

  Eg: New Zealand, Australia and Fiji

• Climate refugees ( will have to leave if environment escalates )

What are the social impacts of Kiribati ?

• Overpopulation : overcrowded housing, strained public services

• Cultural displacement : migration gets rid of tradition

• Families face separation

What are the economic impacts of Kiribati ?

• loss of skilled workforce

• Tourism

• Fisheries lose money (main source of food)

What are the environmental impacts of Kiribati?

• waste management issues

• Loss of biodiversity

• Pressure on resources

How is Kiribati different to Bangladesh?

For Kiribati : sea lvl rising

For Bangladesh : flood prone

Bangladesh Info

• South Asia

• 170 million

• Low lying flood prone delta

Why is Bangladesh vulnerable ?

• coastal flooding

• Cyclones and storm surges

• Salinisation of agriculture land

• Urban flooding

Example of vulnerability for Bangladesh (cyclone exposure)

• has had over 200 cyclones since 1960

• Cyclone Sidr (2007) killed 3,400 and $1.7 billion in damages

Example of vulnerability for Bangladesh (Sea-lvl rise/salination)