A paradise in need of our help - Main contents

Fighting climate change together

Some may say that Kiribati is the Paradise on Earth. With blue lagoons and sandy beaches, Kiribati might be a dream destination for many of us. This small nation, located in the Pacific Ocean, comprises 33 atoll and reef islands spread over an area the size of Australia. But the reality for population of around 100,000 inhabiting this island nation unfortunately is often more difficult than the one that we see when looking at the colourful postcards.

The Republic of Kiribati is considered one of the first countries that may disappear due to climate change. If scientists are correct, the ocean might swallow this Pacific paradise before the end of century. But even before Kiribati disappears under water, a rise in sea level by just 60 cm could render this atoll nation uninhabitable (e.g. salt water will infiltrate and irreversibly poison their already inadequate supply of fresh water). Several communities have already been compelled to resettle inland; thereby creating tensions over the use of already stretched resources. With a rapidly growing population and where land is a scarce resource, maintaining food and water security, managing infrastructure and accommodating to climate change is a major challenge for this country.

A few days ago I had the pleasure of meeting His Excellency, Anote Tong, President of Kiribati. During our meeting we discussed many challenges that the people of Kiribati are facing and I also had an opportunity to reaffirm the EU's commitment to Kiribati and the Pacific region as a whole. Immediate proof of this commitment came in the development programme that I signed together with the President, which will provide €23 million to Kiribati until 2020 from the European Development Fund. This funding represents almost a doubling (+80%) of the initial EU allocation for Kiribati from 2008 - 2013. In addition Kiribati will also receive support from regional and thematic funding.

I'm delighted that the new funding will be spent on the socio-economic development of Kiritimati Island, which holds 70% of the island country's land surface, but for a long time was virtually uninhabited. The EU’s support is guided by Kiribati's own development plans, where the Kiribati government wish to develop Kiritimati, which offers tangible and realistic prospects for the socio-economic development of domestic tuna fisheries, sea freight for people and merchandise, and tourism and private sector development; thereby also helping to fight poverty.

Kiribati and many other small island developing states are on the front line in the battle against climate change - a battle that we can fight and win together. I'd like to underline that, despite the geographic distance between us, our commitment to fighting climate change and protecting the Pacific islands for the future unites us.