The Kiribati government has decided put aside what it calls the ‘misleading and pessimistic” scenario of a sinking/deserted nation and replace it with a bold scenario of the people’s great determination to fight and/or adapt to climate change.

Delivering their country statement at the High Level Segment, Kiribati President Taneti Mamau called on the Conference to recognize the significance of this new policy as a platform of their government’s ambitious 20 year plan to build and develop the nation in the face of climate change.

Mamau says the continued conversation and predictions for Kiribati to sink in future is not only de-empowering but also contradictory to current efforts.

He says climate change is not only about science, but more importantly – about the people in terms of their social values, ethics and morals.

He says Kiribati experiences and witnesses the detrimental impacts of climate change, and they cannot afford to wait any longer.