2009

Sinking paradise
21 July 2009

Sun and waves gently caressing a group of islands in the Pacific - it's a stereotype of paradise.

But it's a paradise that could soon disappear.

Kiribati is an island state in the central Pacific. Maria Tiimon, a native of Kiribati, shares with Friends of the Earth the plight of her sinking country.

The threat to Kiribati is due to changing weather patterns and rising sea level caused by climate change.

Last century sea levels rose 17cm due to the increasing volume of warming water.

But melting glaciers and ice sheets will add further to sea level rise and increase the threat to these low-lying islands.

The impact on people

There are more than 100,000 people living on Kiribati. Where will they go if their country disappears?

An Oxford University study predicts the number of people displaced by climate change will increase over the next 50 years to 200 million.

Who should pay?

Kiribati's president Anote Tong believes western countries have a responsibility to help.

All the Pacific islands have very low emissions. Kiribati's economy is not based on polluting industries but on fishing and exports of coconuts.

Yet industrialised countries have been pumping out emissions for hundreds of years. Their economies have benefitted as a direct result.

Copenhagen

Maria works for Pacific Calling Partnership and hopes to attend the Copenhagen climate talks.

Pacific Calling Partnership aims to force the key polluters to recognise their responsibility.

Rich countries must take the lead on cutting emissions now before countries like Kiribati pay the ultimate price of carbon emissions.

Press for change

We're asking people to sign our international petition to ask all of our leaders at Copenhagen to reach a strong and fair agreement on tackling climate change.

Join Friends of the Earth's campaign and Demand Climate Change at http://www.demandclimatechange.org/

Get involved

Related links