Environmental Refugees
Climate refugees here by 2016
Steve Lewis, Nadi, Fiji
October 24, 2006
AUSTRALIA has been warned it may face a flood of environmental refugees within a decade as the Pacific's smallest island states face submersion under rising seas.
The alarmist message was issued by Kiribati's leader, Anote Tong, as fellow leaders of endangered nations gathered in Fiji to discuss their worsening plight.
His comments brought a human perspective to the debate over climate change on the eve of the start today of the two-day Pacific Islands Forum, being held in the Fiji gateway of Nadi.
Concerns have been raised that nations such as Kiribati, Tuvalu, Niue and the Marshall Islands face an uncertain future due to rising sea levels caused by global warming.
Sceptics argue that such claims are far-fetched, but Mr Tong yesterday warned that regional powers such as Australia and New Zealand may have to prepare for an exodus from these tiny nations within 10 years.
"If we are talking about island states sinking in 10 years time, we simply have to find somewhere to go," Mr Tong said.
"If we become refugees, then so be it. I think the international community has to get used to it."
Referring to Australia's worst ever drought, Mr Tong said the Howard Government understood the effects of climate change, although the arid conditions across Australia were in stark contrast to the challenges facing Pacific nations.
"I have no doubt that Australia also understands these problems but they have their own problems," he said. The smaller island states are expected to raise the threat of rising seas when the forum formally begins.
The issue of rising seas and their effect on the smaller Pacific states has been an almost perennial issue on the forum agenda over the past two decades.
Labor prime minister Bob Hawke offered a sympathetic ear to their plight when the issue was raised in 1989. The more vocal debate over climate change and the prospects of some islands being submerged within the next few decades have livened up the debate in recent years.
With a population of less than 100,000, Kiribati is typical of tiny island states in the Pacific, an archipelago of low-lying coral atolls surrounded by reefs.
The islands lie halfway between Australia and Hawaii.
To read the original article from The Australian, click on:
The Australian
Steve Lewis, Nadi, Fiji
October 24, 2006
AUSTRALIA has been warned it may face a flood of environmental refugees within a decade as the Pacific's smallest island states face submersion under rising seas.
The alarmist message was issued by Kiribati's leader, Anote Tong, as fellow leaders of endangered nations gathered in Fiji to discuss their worsening plight.
His comments brought a human perspective to the debate over climate change on the eve of the start today of the two-day Pacific Islands Forum, being held in the Fiji gateway of Nadi.
Concerns have been raised that nations such as Kiribati, Tuvalu, Niue and the Marshall Islands face an uncertain future due to rising sea levels caused by global warming.
Sceptics argue that such claims are far-fetched, but Mr Tong yesterday warned that regional powers such as Australia and New Zealand may have to prepare for an exodus from these tiny nations within 10 years.
"If we are talking about island states sinking in 10 years time, we simply have to find somewhere to go," Mr Tong said.
"If we become refugees, then so be it. I think the international community has to get used to it."
Referring to Australia's worst ever drought, Mr Tong said the Howard Government understood the effects of climate change, although the arid conditions across Australia were in stark contrast to the challenges facing Pacific nations.
"I have no doubt that Australia also understands these problems but they have their own problems," he said. The smaller island states are expected to raise the threat of rising seas when the forum formally begins.
The issue of rising seas and their effect on the smaller Pacific states has been an almost perennial issue on the forum agenda over the past two decades.
Labor prime minister Bob Hawke offered a sympathetic ear to their plight when the issue was raised in 1989. The more vocal debate over climate change and the prospects of some islands being submerged within the next few decades have livened up the debate in recent years.
With a population of less than 100,000, Kiribati is typical of tiny island states in the Pacific, an archipelago of low-lying coral atolls surrounded by reefs.
The islands lie halfway between Australia and Hawaii.
To read the original article from The Australian, click on:
The Australian
posted by Pax Christi @ Tuesday, October 24, 2006
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