Category: Reports

March 2023 – by Virginia De Biaso

Virginia De Biasio ([email protected]) is a PhD candidate in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at University of York (UK). Her research interests include natural resources justice, territorial rights, environmental justice and climate-induced migration.

The islands of the Republic of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean are one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change. Sea-level rise, changes in temperature and in the frequency of precipitations, extreme weather events are affecting the territory of Kiribati and its natural resources. Lack of resources or changes in their availability have an impact on the living conditions of the population of Kiribati. Given the close link between the lifestyle of the I-Kiribati and their peculiar ecosystem, the well-being of the local population has been severely affected by climate-related changes in their surrounding environment.

The aim of this report is to assess how the population of Kiribati is affected by climate-related changes on their territory and its natural resources. The report examines the impacts of climate change on different indicators of individual well-being: survival and subsistence economy; health; work opportunities; traditional knowledge and culture.

There is evidence that climate change and its effects on the fragile ecosystem of Kiribati lead to a deterioration in the living conditions and in the well- being of the local population. Different strategies have been considered and implemented by the Kiribati Government to address this situation: adaptation within the territory of Kiribati, which may include internal displacement; and cross-border migration and relocation. This report concludes by examining the different challenges of climate-induced migration, both internal and cross-border, on the well-being of the I-Kiribati.

Supervised by Lauren Grant, Director of Field Research at Earth Refuge.

January 2021 – by Chloe Ching, Bella Lo, Maria-Coletta Huda, Nathan Burgard & Ioannis Kyriacou

The below field research was conducted by law students from the University of Hong Kong in collaboration with Earth Refuge’s Legal Education Department. Not many edits were made to maintain the authors’ tone of voice.

The gravity of the impact of climate change upon Tai O’s community speaks to the necessity for measures to be put in place to urgently safeguard the rights of those living there. In the aftermath of the 2008 typhoon, detailed research led to new policies being brought into force, designed to protect Tai O residents from future climate-induced harm. However, there is a scarcity of follow-up research in recent years, which provides little accountability to the affected population following the implementation of such policies.

The needs of Tai O residents, obtained through surveys and in-depth dialogues, were consolidated in Tai O under climate change: A preliminary study into the sophistication of emergency responses of Tai O residents, a report put together by the Carbon Care InnoLab, the Tai O Sustainable Development Education Workshop and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute, with the help of other NGOs such as the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association (the “2016 report”). Focusing on accounts of the aftermath of Typhoon Hagupit, the detailed impacts of climate-change-induced typhoons are also documented in the 2016 report. 

Building upon the perspectives brought to light by the 2016 report, this field research examines whether existing policies that are meant to protect Tai O residents are adequate. Before concluding, this report will also briefly provide suggestions of improvement. In order to conduct this research, authors of this report met with two NGOs, Tai O Sustainable Development Education Workshop (“Tai O Workshop”) and Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Tai O Community Work Office (“YWCA”). They also talked to two representatives of the Tai O Rural Committee, which is the only officially-recognised bridge between the government and the community: Ho Siu-Kei, Chairman of the said Committee and an Ex-officio Member of the Islands District Council; Wong Yung-kan, Representative of Fishermen in the same committee (“Rural Committee”). These interviews were all conducted in Tai O in November 2021.