1. The Rising Sea and Everyday Struggles On the Tarawa Atoll in Kiribati, families like that of Tear Tata are battling the encroaching ocean. At low tide, he and his sons gather coral to build makeshift sea walls in a desperate effort to protect their home from frequent flooding. As sea levels rise, these coral walls often collapse under pressure, forcing residents to build higher barriers. With only two meters above sea level on average, Kiribati’s atolls are highly vulnerable, and despite temporary defenses, many worry their homes will soon be submerged.
2. Climate Change and National Threat Climate change is now a matter of survival for the people of Kiribati. The government has made it a national priority, appointing officials like climate commissioner Joy Etinge, who warns of the long-term threats of seawater contamination, sanitation issues, and displacement. In anticipation of total submersion, land has already been purchased in Fiji for future relocation, reflecting the grim reality that Kiribati might become uninhabitable within decades.
3. Community Resilience and Mangrove Solutions Communities are fighting back with initiatives like mangrove planting, led by local youth and environmental activists. Mangroves, with their deep root systems, help resist erosion and storm surges. More than 50,000 mangroves have been planted around the atolls, including on Ambo Beach. These efforts reflect the determination of residents to preserve their homeland and identity, even as many acknowledge the growing fear and likelihood of displacement.
4. Overpopulation and Eroding Infrastructure Tarawa, home to over half of Kiribati’s population, is facing additional pressure from overpopulation. Nearly all land is built upon, and large families place strain on limited resources like clean water, jobs, and healthcare. Flooding exacerbates sanitation issues, with salinated groundwater and insufficient infrastructure compounding the crisis. Seawalls offer limited protection, and entire communities live in fear of the next storm surge.
5. Cultural Identity and Economic Adaptation Despite worsening conditions, many residents are reluctant to leave. People like Cabao express a deep attachment to their land and traditions. At the same time, adaptation efforts continue—such as government-sponsored palm sugar production on the island of Abaiang. This project provides income while promoting local resources. Women’s health advocates are also reviving traditional cooking methods using herbs and native vegetables to combat rising obesity and malnutrition from imported foods.
6. Education, Hope, and Vocational Pathways Education and training are central to Kiribati’s survival strategy. At the Marine Training Center, young people are learning to become seafarers, gaining skills that allow them to support their families and prepare for possible future migration. Despite the modern facilities, even the center struggles with climate-induced flooding. Meanwhile, primary school teachers educate children on climate change, instilling both awareness and anxiety as students draw bleak visions of submerged homes and lost land.
7. A Future in Question Marine biologists report that while some coral species around Kiribati are adapting to warmer waters, reefs are increasingly damaged by waste and coastal development. As coral reefs are vital natural defenses, their decline heightens vulnerability. The government is considering extreme solutions, including artificial islands, though financial constraints loom large. With the population set to double and climate change accelerating, Kiribati may become the first nation to disappear beneath the sea. Yet amid adversity, hope, pride, and cultural resilience endure.
Journal and reflect on the following
How does the story of Kiribati challenge our understanding of climate change as a distant or future problem?
What does the daily struggle to build sea walls and plant mangroves say about human resilience and adaptation?
In what ways can traditional knowledge and modern solutions work together to protect communities from environmental threats?
Who should be responsible for supporting countries like Kiribati that contribute little to climate change but suffer its greatest effects?
What does the Kiribati people's strong connection to their land and culture teach us about identity and belonging?
How might displacement due to climate change affect future generations and their sense of home?
How can education and vocational training, like seafaring programs, offer hope and stability in the face of environmental crisis?
Discuss
Song for Kiribati - Climate Change
Final Prayer for Kiribati and Creation God of all creation, You formed the islands of the Pacific with beauty, rhythm, and life. You placed your people among the oceans, calling them to live in harmony with the sea, the wind, and the sky. We give thanks for the people of Kiribati— for their songs, their culture, their courage, and their faith.
Lord, the seas are rising, and the homes of your children are disappearing. The shores once filled with laughter now echo with uncertainty. But still they sing, still they pray, still they hope. Strengthen their spirits, O God, and let the world hear their cry for justice.
Awaken us, Lord, from apathy. Help us see that creation is not a resource to exploit, but a sacred gift to protect. May we learn from the people of Kiribati what it means to live simply, to care deeply, and to act bravely in the face of great trials.
Holy Spirit, breathe your wisdom into leaders, scientists, and all people of goodwill. Guide our hands toward healing, our policies toward justice, and our hearts toward compassion. Let the islands not vanish without a witness. Let their children’s futures not be washed away.
God of hope,You raised dry land from the waters, You calmed the storm on Galilee, You walked with Paul through shipwreck and peril. Walk now with the people of Kiribati. Anchor them in your promise, And may their story stir the world to love.
