Kiribati: a drowning paradise in the South Pacific | DW Documentary

Climate change and rising sea levels mean the island nation of Kiribati in the South Pacific is at risk of disappearing into the sea.

But the island’s inhabitants aren’t giving up. They are doing what they can to save their island from inundation. Can COP23 help make a difference?

UN estimates indicate that Kiribati could disappear in just 30 or 40 years. That’s because the average elevation is less than two meters above sea level. And some of the knock-on effects of climate change have made the situation more difficult. Kiribati can hardly be surpassed in terms of charm and natural beauty. There are 33 atolls and one reef island – spread out over an area of 3.5 million square kilometers. All have white, sandy beaches and blue lagoons. Kiribati is the world’s largest state that consists exclusively of atolls. A local resident named Kaboua points to the empty, barren land around him and says, "There used to be a large village here with 70 families." But these days, this land is only accessible at low tide. At high tide, it's all under water. Kaboua says that sea levels are rising all the time, and swallowing up the land. That’s why many people here build walls made of stone and driftwood, or sand or rubbish. But these barriers won't stand up to the increasing number of storm surges. Others are trying to protect against coastal erosion by planting mangrove shrubs or small trees. But another local resident, Vasiti Tebamare, remains optimistic. She works for KiriCAN, an environmental organization. Vasiti says: "The industrialized countries -- the United States, China, and Europe -- use fossil fuels for their own ends. But what about us?" Kiribati's government has even bought land on an island in Fiji, so it can evacuate its people in an emergency. But Vasiti and most of the other residents don't want to leave.
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[jintayadomi_]

I am praying for safety and progress of Kiribati. I love how humble and simple the country is. Lots of love here from PH 🇵🇭

[smj.mp]

I visited Kiribati in 2003. I was a kid but I still remember how clear the water was; I could see little fish swimming around me. The people were really welcoming and fun. It's so sad to see this happening to them.

[DreamgirlBlue]

"This is where our hearts belong"
Beautiful ❤
God bless these people, may their hard work to keep their ancestral home....🥺

[Hurricane]

It’s not just climate that’s a problem for Kiribati. Those islands are atolls. The islands are extinct volcanoes. At one time millions of years ago Kiribati was probably much like the Hawaiian Islands are today. Over time the volcanoes become extinct, and then erosion takes over. Eventually the island ends up being reclaimed by the sea once again through erosion and subsidence. Atolls represent a volcanic island in the last stages of its life before sinking back into the sea.

[miles]

Kiribati is a place I really hope to see someday. This film makes me know more about it. It is a great place, I am especially moved by their people's loyalty and love to their land and culture. Hope I can do something to help, even a little. May the good luck be always with Kiribati people!

[romeosantos]

Can't help but notice how the people of Kiribati look so much like us Filipinos, though they are darker generally. Yes, they are our Austronesian kin. Greetings from the Philippines.

[dooodooo]

I'm so sad watching these people knowing that their lives are in risks but I admire their resiliency❤ Praying for them from Philippines❤

[judyp.]

I remember that, in the beginning of the first covid-lockdown, I read in my daily hamburg newsletter that several Kiribati men were locked in the hamburg harbour and couldn't return home. This was the first time I heard about Kiribati and, fascinated by all these little countries in the middle of the ocean, I spent half of my workday exploring Oceania on google maps 😄

[lburns]

These people are beautiful. They are working so hard with very little to try to save their homes. I pray they won't have to live in some other country, and be considered "refugees". Like people want to leave their homes and way of life.

[kevinjonesmusic]

27:30 she speaks facts about feeling like a second class citizen when you’re in a country that doesn’t belong to you. It’s sad to see the island washing away. You can clearly see how happy they are.

[tybarker]

These little island paradises really fascinate me. There’s so many with their own distinct character and landscape. Wishing them the best life over there, even if it is pretty isolated. They have each other!

[zapfanzapfan]

Hire the Dutch, they know how to combat the ocean! If they can build artificial islands for Dubai they can certainly reinforce some Kiribati islands. Dredge and spray back the eroded sand to the islands and plant more of those mangrove forests.

[arturnunes]

My prayer and love for these humble people of Kiribati👏🏽.
From East Timor 🇹🇱

[Sciambolanja]

I was lucky to visit Kiribati (I'm from Italy) in June 2017, it was a life changing experience; incredible places and lovely people which unfortunately have to face with a cruel destiny... Good luck for your future i-Kiribati people, Mauri!

[Greenstriker]

I discovered this country by randomly browsing google maps. The islands are very beautiful and I find it quite interesting how resilient these people are to live in such isolation.

[zhcirg]

My first time watching and knowing these people in this beautiful country. I admire how they work so hard to find a solution in every problem. May the good Lord always bless and guide you in your everyday lives. 🙏

Sending prayer and love from the Philippines 🇵🇭

[kingchaddie]

It is the essence of Loving your own native land. Saving it from getting lost so people make ways to save it and supporting their local products and using them to make a product where they can used it to make their industry grow. Good job and keep it up.

[Artari]

Coming from the Hawaiian islands and studying Geology in the Pacific , I have seen what looks like the rise of the seas changing. The truth is we are on one of the largest Crustal Plate, called the "Pacific Plate", while most islands And continents are on Tectonic Plates, Hawaii is in the middle of a crustal plate which sits on a hot spot. The continental drift is moving this plate, which are below the ocean surface. If you look at Hawaii as a whole, we have a total of eight major islands, then many small islands, atolls, and reefs spanning over a thousand miles. Over time our islands have moved. Our islands formed and changed over time. I have experienced the shift of each island. Big Island is still growing and active, producing another island next to it because the island is on a hot spot on the Pacific plate. The landscape is long and slopey. Little to none beaches, with lava landscape. On the other major island to the left, which is Kauai the mountains have eroded and have a lot of white sandy beaches. The next island Oahu where I am born and raised, is the same. We have maps and photos of what our islands looked like before. I remember seeing beaches, but they are now under water. We have many sandbars, while other sandbars I used to see as a kid are not visible . Volcanic activity produce Earth quakes which help move the plate, with that it has moved our islands to left of the pacific, slightly up. All the smaller islands, atolls and reefs were much bigger before but sank over time as it moved deeper and farther from the hot spot. You will see this pattern happen for all the other islands in the Pacific, such as Kiribati which is below Hawaii and is also part of this Pacific crustal plate. Hope this all makes sense now. It is sad that it is happening, but those who are from the islands have to either adapt or find other larger islands to live on. Aloha

[antonino]

One fun fact I've learned about Kiribati is that they are the first people or island nation to welcome the start of new year because of its location in the international date line.

[jannaraphael]

The island and people are beautiful. I pray that they can preserve their home.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽