Global warming threatens survival of ROC's Pacific allies: envoys

Despite their low-carbon lifestyle, the people of the two beautiful low-lying atolls are likely to be among first batch of refugees of climate change, diplomats said.

"While these countries produce the least amount of carbon dioxide, they have to bear the brunt of the adverse impact of global warming, " Benjamin T. H. Ho, ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan to Kiribati, said in a recent interview with the Central News Agency.

James C.K. Tien, Taiwan's ambassador to Tuvalu, echoed Ho's view, saying older generations of Tuvalu people have complained that the beaches where they played during their childhood have vanished and that the areas surrounding their houses now tend to be awash with seawater each February when large currents rise.

"Seawater even oozes from potholes in the road," Tien added.

When a strong earthquake struck Chile Feb. 27, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning. In response to the warning, many Tuvalu people were evacuated to the country's few "high-altitude points." So far this year, Tien said, tsunami warnings for Tuvalu have been issued three times.

Meanwhile, in the face of possibly disastrous rise in sea levels, the Kiribati government has not only worked hard to raise its people's environmental awareness but has also protested to developed countries against what it called their excessive greenhouse gas emissions that have cause global warming and other environmental problems.

Moreover, Ho said, the Kiribati government has devised a plan for "relocation of the whole country" in the event of disaster and has also been lobbying for more international aid for its life-and-death battle against global warming.

According to the ambassador, Kiribati was exploring whether any country in the world would be willing to provide land space or an island to accommodate its total population of about 100,000.

At this time, Ho said, the plan does not seem feasible. Although Australia and New Zealand are willing to accept immigrants from Kiribati, they would not do so without any prerequisites.

For example, while Australia has agreed to help train nurses and skilled workers from Kiribati, it has stipulated that they must receive training and work for a specified period of time in Australia before they can apply for "employment immigration."

Ho said that in his view, apart from offering vocational training, Taiwan can play a more active role in Kiribati's "relocation" plan by opening its doors to workers from the Pacific island nation.

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