My Country Will Be Underwater Soon Unless We Work Together

Although Kiribati's islands are atolls, or coral islands in the case of Banaba, the risks associated with sea level rise are not limited to being submerged by the ocean waves. Encroaching seawater threatens freshwater resources and increases soil salinization, which destroys arable land.

Some argue the atoll and reef islands may be able to adjust if the sea level rises slowly – coral polyp activity will continue to occur, and the reef will rise in accordance with the sea level. However, the rise could be catastrophic if it is too rapid and outpaces coral polyp activity. In addition, ocean acidification, which causes coral bleaching, will inhibit or kill reef growth.

The situation in Kiribati is precarious, even in the best-case scenario. In 1999, the ocean completely inundated two of its small, uninhabited islands.

Watch this video, where Anote Tong, president of Kiribati in 1915, discusses climate change and the fate of his country.