Colonial Relocation and Implications for Future Climate Change Induced Migration and Displacement
Publisher: Toda Peace Institute
Author(s): Tammy Tabe
Date: 2020
Topics: Climate Change, Humanitarian Assistance, Land, Livelihoods
Scientific research has projected that climate change is one of the greatest threats to human security because it disrupts the livelihoods of people and will generate the migration and displacement of vulnerable populations across the globe. In particular, the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific are characterised as low-lying atolls, with economies that are heavily dependent on the natural environment and ecosystems. The emphasis on migration as an adaptation strategy has been widely debated in international, regional, and national forums, and at the community level. While it appears to be a possible solution for vulnerable communities in the Pacific, without proper planning and preparation, and the involvement and consent of people, it could also potentially lead to forced displacement. This paper reflects on the relocation of the Gilbertese from the Southern Gilbert Islands to Phoenix Islands, and eventually to the Solomon Islands in the 1960s. The planning of the relocation, especially from the Phoenix Islands to the Solomon Islands, and the experiences of the people provide important lessons that can be used to inform future climate change induced migration and displacement in the Pacific Islands.