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Kiribati’s Coastal Communities at Risk: Financial Institution Vulnerability Assessment Reveals Urgent Need for Action

A recent rapid assessment conducted by the Kiribati Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Developments, the Stimson Center, and the Commonwealth Secretariat has identified significant ecological and financial risks facing Tarawa, Kiribati.

Ecological and Financial Risks

The report highlights the country’s vulnerability to coastal flooding and erosion, as well as its economic dependence on revenue from offshore foreign-flagged purse seine tuna fishing. The assessment found that:

• Over 50% of Tarawa’s land is expected to be covered by rising sea levels by 2100.
• Inadequate solid waste management and sewage practices pose a major concern, putting the island’s limited freshwater resources in jeopardy.

Priority Recommendations

The assessment made three priority recommendations for Kiribati:

• Integrated Flood Management and Mitigation: Implement flood management and mitigation using artificial and natural infrastructure, such as building seawalls and restoring key marine ecosystems.
• Circular Economy: Move towards a circular economy that emphasizes reducing, reusing, and recycling all forms of waste.
• Economic Diversification: Diversify Kiribati’s economy by developing sustainable coastal tourism and harnessing human capital through green innovation and entrepreneurship.

Quotes

“Heidi Prislan, Adviser for Commonwealth Blue Charter said: “The data collected and presented by the rapid assessment will give leaders and communities in Kiribati the information they need to continue to address the runaway flood situation there, and begin to improve its direly inadequate waste management systems.”

“Sally Yozell, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center’s Environmental Security Program added: “The CORVI Rapid Assessment confirms that the climate situation in Kiribati is dire. This report provides Kiribati with an urgent roadmap for actions to address several economic and ecological issues that will continue to deteriorate without swift and strong interventions.”

Project Support

The project was supported by the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) and funded with UK aid from the UK government.

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