Island warms to idea of moving entire population

Fearing that climate change could wipe out their entire Pacific archipelago, the leaders of Kiribati are considering an unusual back-up plan: Moving the populace to Fiji.

Kiribati president Anote Tong confirmed his cabinet has endorsed a plan to buy nearly 6,000 acres on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu. He said the fertile land, being sold by a church group for about $9.6m (€7.3m), could provide an insurance policy for Kiribati’s entire population of 103,000, though he hopes it will never be necessary for everyone to leave.

“We would hope not to put everyone on one piece of land, but if it became absolutely necessary, yes, we could do it,” Tong said. “It wouldn’t be for me, personally, but would apply more to a younger generation. For them, moving won’t be a matter of choice. It’s basically going to be a matter of survival.”