Why are the low-lying atolls of Kiribati vulnerable to rising sea levels?

The low-lying atolls of Kiribati are exceptionally vulnerable to rising sea levels primarily due to their minimal elevation, with most islands rising no higher than 26 feet (8 meters) above sea level. As global temperatures increase, climate change drives sea level rise through thermal expansion and the melting of polar ice sheets and glaciers.12

This rise in ocean levels poses two critical threats:

• Inundation: The physical encroachment of the sea threatens to submerge the land entirely, potentially rendering the islands uninhabitable.32
• Saltwater intrusion: Rising seas infiltrate freshwater supplies and groundwater basins. This contamination ruins wells and aquifers, threatening the availability of potable water and damaging the soil, which hinders agriculture.2

These environmental pressures are further exacerbated by extreme weather events, such as droughts and storm surges, which push salt water further inland and prevent the natural flushing of soil. Consequently, the government of Kiribati has been forced to investigate long-term safety strategies, including land acquisition in other nations and the potential creation of artificial islets.234