A disappearing state, Kiribati

Presented the Minister of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development of Kiribati, Hon. Tiarite George Kwong when delivering his statement during the High Level Segment.

Kiribati told the international community that they are putting in place measures so their people have the option to migrate with dignity when their homes are no longer inhabitable because of the impacts of climate change. The Government is exploring long term survivability and self-reliance options that ensures sustainability of culture, heritage and identity of the Kiribati people.

"We are looking at the various options available to a "disappearing" state, the legalities and the precedents. We are buying land offshore to enhance food security for our people. We are also working on improving the education and the skills of our people to a level where they are able to compete for jobs in the international labour market. We have facilitated overseas employment and permanent emigration opportunities for our people."

The fate of this disappearing state is in the hands of developed countries.

Here at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kiribati is trying to remain optimistic in the face of the announcement from Japan, home of the Kyoto Protocol as they scale back their target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Negotiations go right through the night lasting longer than 24 hours at a time as small island nations fight for the right to survive.


"The challenges facing us as we gather again for this 19th session of COP here in Warsaw are even greater and urgent than when we met a year ago. Security challenges posed by climate change continue to undermine our efforts, the global family of nations to achieve sustainable development our efforts as a global community to work towards peace and security. For some of us, it is a plea for basic survival."

It was during the statement today that Kiribati also called for the Green Climate Fund to be resourced as soon as possible to start operations by the end of 2014, allowing for improved access in particular for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries through direct access.

The final words of the Kiribati Minister was addressed to the President of the COP hosted by Warsaw, Poland.

"We have every confidence that under your able presidency and the Polish Government's leadership, you will craft and steer this UNFCCC process to new innovative levels that can help set a new people-oriented course for this crucial multilateral process.

When all of us return to our respective homes from Warsaw, to our respective children, and grandchildren we must be able to look them in the eye and tell them with all honest that we have done all that is within our collective powers to combat the devastating consequences of climate change."

The UNFCCC COP 19 is hosted in Warsaw Poland from 11 to 22 November.