Photos courtesy of Humans of Kiribati

Over the years, Peace Corps Volunteers have served in many nations that have endured revolution, war, and social turmoil, but Kiribati may be the first Peace Corps country to simply cease to exist.

Kiribati (Keer-ree-bahss) is a nation composed of 33 coral atoll islands spread over a vast area of the Pacific Ocean. Most of the islands of Kiribati are no more than two meters above sea level. Like many Pacific island nations, Kiribati is severely impacted by climate change and rising sea levels. Though Kiribati may not be completely submerged for another fifty years, the effects of climate change may soon render the islands uninhabitable.

Mike Roman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kiribati from 2000 to 2002. In this episode of the Posh Corps Podcast, Mike explains the challenges facing his adopted country, and what he's doing to help Kiribati and other Pacific island nations.

 

To find out more about the projects mentioned in this podcast, check out:

Kiribati Keepers

Millennium Island


 

Credits:

Produced and recorded by Alan Toth.

Images: Humans of Kiribati, Raimon Kataotao, Gonna Ketels

Additional Audio Used under a Creative Commons 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0):

The London School of Economics and Politics: In the Front Line of Climate Change

izzykb (YouTube): 1.5C to stay alive change at COP21

 

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