By Rex Alex
There are several innovative policy solutions which are being implemented in hopes to remediate current climate conflicts and avoid future complications, however such policies are not without unique shortcomings. One such policy is the “Migration with Dignity” initiative which was implemented by Kiribati President Anote Tong. As a nation of small islands and atolls, Kiribati has no sustainable internal migration solution; thus the goal is to develop large expatriate communities in Australia, New Zealand and other developed nations which comes with the additional benefit of remittances for Kiribati. Furthermore, the core policy is to “upskill” Kiribati citizens through government programs which provide education or job training so that they can migrate to new countries not as victims but as qualified workers. While the intent of this policy is noble, it fails to reach those with limited literacy and subsistence livelihoods. Also, Many people view the ‘migrate with dignity’ strategy critically, as it reinforces the image of Kiribati as a ‘climate change poster child’ and symbolic “sinking island state”, such stereotypes are rejected by Kiribati citizens.
McNamara, Karen. “Cross-Border Migration with Dignity in Kiribati.” Researchgate.net, May 2015, https://www.fmreview.org/sites/fmr/files/FMRdownloads/en/climatechange-disasters/mcnamara.pdf