Kiribati : Selected Issues

The Selected Issues paper focuses on climate change in Kiribati. This note summarizes the main ways in which climate change may negatively affect the economy of Kiribati. It then shows how Kiribati may cope with these negative effects by implementing adaptation projects, as well as by contributing to global mitigation efforts. Finally, the note describes some issues related to climate finance and how authorities of Kiribati may direct their efforts in the most productive way to ensure that climate-related projects obtain the proper financial backing and are carried out to fruition in a timely fashion. Leveraging climate finance effectively is critical to ensure Kiribati implements climate projects. Introducing renewable energy is one of the most effective ways to achieve emissions reductions for Kiribati. Besides renewable energy, other non-price-based instruments can be deployed for climate mitigation. Above all, international cooperation is crucial to help Kiribati overcome climate threats. The impact of climate change is far beyond the ability of any countries to cope with it alone, not to mention small atoll islands like Kiribati