week 10 -Climate migrants and new identities The geopolitics of embracing or rejecting mobility

Climate Change and Identity

• Climate migration is influencing new forms of island identity among Tuvaluans and i-Kiribati.

• Key questions:

  • What does climate migration mean for island identity?

  • How does identity inform shared experiences of climate change?

  • What is the role of identity in advocating for change?

Sedentarism vs. Mobility

• The paper discusses the tension between sedentarism (staying rooted in place) and mobilization (migration) as responses to climate change.

• Tuvaluans show a strong commitment to remaining in their homeland despite climate threats, often rejecting the label of climate migrants or refugees.

• Kiribati's government promotes "Migration with Dignity," encouraging planned migration as a positive response to climate change.

Identity Dynamics in Tuvalu and Kiribati

• Tuvaluan identity is tied to a strong sense of place, community, and fenua (islands), leading to resistance against migration.

• Interviews reveal a preference among Tuvaluans to remain and face challenges rather than to relocate, emphasizing their national identity.

• i-Kiribati approach is more flexible, viewing migration as an adaptive strategy that can accompany development and security.

Policy Responses and Implications

• Tuvalu emphasizes emissions reduction and maintaining sovereignty rather than focusing on relocation due to rising sea levels.

• Kiribati actively engages in international labor agreements to facilitate migration, viewing it as a strategy for survival and dignity rather than despair.

• Both nations need to navigate the complexities of identity, sovereignty, and migration negotiations in the face of climate change.