The Kiribati Project

A Human Approach to Climate Change

Why The Kiribati Project? (pronounced KEER-ə-bahs)

Background

Kiribati is an island nation made up of thirty-two coral atolls, sixteen of which are inhabited with a population of 110,000 thousand people.  It is located in the Central Pacific Ocean where the International Dateline crosses the Equator.  It is about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii.  The tiny islands are generally between 1/8 to 1/2 mile wide with an elevation no greater than 15 feet above sea level.  There is no running water or electricity except on the capital island of Tarawa.  The fresh water comes from very shallow wells which tap into a freshwater lens.  Essentially the fresh water sits on a coral / calcium rock bed that is just above the saltwater foundation.  This is a very fragile ecosystem and one of the most vulnerable places to feel the effects of polar / glacial melt and the rise of the ocean.  As a result, there are predictions that at the current pace of change in overall ocean levels, the Islands of Kiribati will be uninhabitable within the next fifty to seventy years.  Where will the I Kiribati people go?  What happens to the culture when the people leave their homeland? What about the millions of others who live on low lying islands throughout the world.  How will this migration of climate change refugees affect the rest of the planet?

 

How it Works:

Kiribati, and many other small developing countries are frequently unknown to most people and therefore ignored in the greater climate change discussions.  The Kiribati Project is dedicated to bringing greater awareness of vulnerable nations and people by partnering with schools and classrooms.   At the beginning of a school year students will learn about Kiribati and other similar countries where they are introduced to the people, culture and the effects of climate change on their lives.  However, The Kiribati Project is not only focused on awareness.  While awareness of places like Kiribati helps understand the impact of climate change, it is connections that help develop a stronger sense of how we are all interconnected.  Throughout the school year, and by utilizing the skills and connections of returned Peace Corps Volunteers (or others who have spent time in vulnerable nations), The Kiribati Project works with the teacher and students to partner with schools in those nations.  A classroom in Minnesota will be connected to a class in a country like Kiribati to begin a dialogue, exchange cultural information and  share what effects climate change is having on them, the community they live in, and their way of life. 

 

At the conclusion of the school year the students will present and share the information they have collected in a symposium. They then add what they have learned about the people and the culture to an archive site hosted by The Kiribati Project.   

 

 

 

Standards Addressed:

Earth Science

Interdependence within the Earth system

Water circulates through the Earth's crust, oceans and atmosphere in what is known as the water cycle.

Identify where water collects on Earth, including atmosphere, ground, and surface water, and describe how water moves through the Earth system using the processes of evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
Earth Science

Human Interaction with Earth Systems
In order to maintain and improve their existence, humans interact with and influence Earth systems.
Describe how the methods people utilize to obtain and use water in their homes and communities can affect water supply and quality

Earth Science
Interdependence Within the Earth system
 Patterns of atmospheric movement influence global climate and local weather.
 Describe how the composition and structure of the Earth's atmosphere affects energy absorption, climate, and the distribution of particulates and gases. For example: Certain gases contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Earth and Space Science
Human Interactions with the Earth Systems
 People consider potential benefits, costs and risks to make decisions on how they interact with natural systems.
Explain how human activity and natural processes are altering the hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere, including pollution, topography and climate. For example: Active volcanoes and the burning of fossil fuels contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Geography
Human Environment Interaction
The environment influences human actions; and humans both adapt to and change, the environment.
Explain how humans adapt to and/or modify the physical environment and how they are in turn affected by these adaptations and modifications.
For example: Humans cut down a forest to clear land for farming, which leads to soil erosion. Consequently, humans have to use more fertilizer to supplement the nutrients in the soil.

Geography

Human Systems
The characteristics, distribution and migration of human populations on the earth’s surface influence human systems (cultural, economic and political systems).
Describe the locations of human populations and the cultural characteristics of Australia/ Oceania.