People from Kiribati, especially after obtaining college degrees, tend to have a desire to migrate abroad to obtain further education and good jobs and, to some extent, due to the impacts of climate change. Nineteen percent of I-Kiribati migrants in Fiji who responded to our survey indicated climate change as a factor for their migration, but their primary reasons were to seek better education and employment. When seeking employment, their lack of English-language skills and professional qualifications posed challenges. However, those who had prepared well in advance tend to find jobs relatively smoothly after migration. When settling in a new area, people tended to rely on family connections, community groups, and other social supports as sources of network and safety net.

1. [1] Y. Kusakari et al., “Farmer-Perceived Effects of Climate Change on Livelihoods in Wa West District, Upper West Region of Ghana,” J. Disaster Res., Vol.9, No.4, pp. 516-528, 2014.
2. [2] Based on the interview with the High Commissioner of the Kiribati to Fiji, Mr. David Ateti Teaabo, on November 13th, 2018.
3. [3] “Snowball Sampling,” M. S. Lewis-Beck, A. Bryman, and T. F. Liao (Eds.), “The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods,” Sage Research Methods, 2011.
4. [4] Asia Development Bank (ADB), “Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2018,” https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/443671/ki2018.pdf [accessed April 17, 2019].
5. [5] United Nations University the Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), “Climate Change and Migration in the Pacific: Links, attitudes, and future scenarios in Nauru, Tuvalu, and Kiribati,” https://i.unu.edu/media/ehs.unu.edu/news/11747/RZ_Pacific_EHS_ESCAP_151201.pdf [accessed May 15, 2019]
6. [6] O. Hoegh-Guldberg et al., “Impacts of 1.5^◦C of Global Warming on Natural and Human Systems,” IPCC Special Report, “Global Warming of 1.5^◦C,” https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/02/SR15_Chapter3_Low_Res.pdf [accessed April 17, 2019]
7. [7] J. Barnett and W. N. Adger, “Climate Dangers and Atoll Countries,” Climatic Change, Vol.61, Issue 3, pp. 321-337, 2003.
8. [8] C. D. Storlazzi, E. P. L. Elias, and P. Berkowitz, “Many atolls may be uninhabitable within decades due to climate change,” Scientific Reports, Vol.5, Article No.14546, doi: 10.1038/srep14546, 2015.
9. [9] UNICEF, “Kiribati Migration Profiles,” https://esa.un.org/miggmgprofiles/indicators/files/Kiribati.pdf [accessed April 21, 2019]
10. [10] M. A. Teariki, “Housing and Health of Kiribati Migrants Living in New Zealand,” Int. J. of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol.14, No.10, doi: 10.3390/ijerph14101237, 2017.
11. [11] N. Yoshioka and M. Maekawa, Research Note “Comparison and way forward regarding climate-induced migration policies in the Pacific island states (Kikou kiin no iten mondai ni kansuru taiheiyoutoushokoku no kakkokuseisaku no hikaku to tenbou),” J. of the Pacific Society, Vol.6, pp. 63-86, 2018 (in Japanaese).
12. [12] K. E. McNamara, “Cross-border migration with dignity in Kiribati,” Forced Migration Review, 2015, https://www.fmreview.org/climatechange-disasters/mcnamara [accessed May 10, 2019]
13. [13] Government of Fiji, “Planned Relocation Guidelines: A framework to undertake climate change related relocation,” 2018, https://cop23.com.fj/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CC-PRG-BOOKLET-22-1.pdf [accessed May 10, 2019]
14. [14] Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association, “Fiji Immigration Policy Change Regarding Work Permits,” 2018, https://fhta.com.fj/fiji-immigration-policy-change-regarding-work-permits/ [accessed May 10, 2019]
15. [15] Government of Fiji, “Citizenship of Fiji Degree 2009,” 2009, http://www.immigration.gov.fj/images/pdfs/citizenship_decree_2009.pdf [accessed May 10, 2019]
16. [16] “Migration Policies Needed For Relocation: Vuniwaqa,” Fiji Sun (online), June 27, 2018, https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/06/27/migration-policies-needed-for-relocation-vuniwaqa/ [accessed May 10, 2019]
17. [17] N. Hall, “How New Zealand can make world-leading climate refugee visas work,” Climate Nome News, 2017, https://www.climatechangenews.com/2017/11/30/new-zealand-can-make-world-leading-climate-refugee-visas-work/ [accessed May 15, 2019]
18. [18] T. Manch, “Humanitarian visa proposed for climate change refugees dead in the water,” Stuff, 2018, https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/106660148/humanitarian-visa-proposed-for-climate-change-refugees-dead-in-the-water [accessed May 15, 2019]
19. [19] T. O’Brien, “Govt may change immigration settings to take climate change refugees,” Newshub, 2018, https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/09/govt-may-change-immigration-settings-to-take-climate-change-refugees.html [accessed May 15, 2019]
20. [20] Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, “Australia’s commitment to climate change action in Kiribati,” 2018, https://dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/australias-commitment-to-climate-change-action-in-kiribati.aspx [accessed May 15, 2019]
21. [21] “Laws of Kiribati revised edition 1980, Constitution of Kiribati,” https://www.parliament.gov.ki/constitution/ [accessed May 15, 2019]
22. [22] Abara Banaba – our homeland Banaba website, “Rabi History” http://www.banaban.com/contents/en-us/d23_rabi-history.html [accessed May 15, 2019]
23. [23] Radio New Zealand, “Skepticism over Kiribati purchase of Fiji land,” 2016, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/294009/skepticism-over-kiribati-purchase-of-fiji-land [accessed May 15, 2019]