Kiribati

The tiny Pacific nation of Kiribati is among countries that are most vulnerable to the climate change. Sea level rise, coastal erosion, soil salinisation and extreme weather events already proving climate change scientists' worst prediction that the country might disappear under the sea in decades. The best example that the climate change is real is seen in Tebunginako village in Abaiang atoll. The village is called by the country's government a "barometer for what Kiribati can expect in the future". Since 1970s the villagers have seen the sea rise. Eventually the erosion was so great that the major part of the village had to be abandoned. In South Tarawa, which is Kiribati official capital, some villages also slowly dissipating under the sea water. Among others, Tebikenikoora village suffers from flooding every high tide. Before the high tide events locals park their cars on a high areas of the village and stay in their homes. Trying to fight the fate, the country’s government started Kiribati Adaptation Program. In 2011 over 37000 mangroves were planted in North and South Tarawa as well as in other atolls of Kiribati. Although there are still debates among the scientists about what exactly causes the sea level rise, Kiribati government is already has been looking for a place to relocate the entire nation if the country disappears under the sea. Kiribati purchashed land in Fiji for $8.77 million in May 2014 where its residents would be relocated in the event that sea-level rise drowns the Pacific island nation and displaces its population of just over 100,000 people.