A Sea of Emigration Options: The Pathways for Tuvalu and the Republic of Marshall Islands

Abstract

Climate change is a multi-faceted policy issue that poses severe risks to small low-lying atoll states. The impacts of climate change include ocean acidification, sea level rise, coastal erosion, agriculture and aquaculture losses, and severe weather damage to key infrastructure. Tuvalu and the Republic of the Marshall Islands are small low-lying atoll-based states who are vulnerable to environmental change, and are already experiencing social pressures, such as lack of access to freshwater and high levels of population density on urban atolls. The compounded impacts of environmental and social pressures are expected to affect the liveability of atolls and require residents to emigrate. This study identifies and analyses the adequacy of emigration options for Tuvalu and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) residents following climate change impacts. Using qualitative data from a review of related literature on emigration policy, a media discourse analysis and eight semi-structured interviews, I identify ten possible emigration options related to climate change impacts. Through critical analysis I find that all ten proposed options are incompatible with current legal structures, accessibility and customary land tenure in other Pacific island nations. The research findings suggest that climate change immigration may not be an urgent policy issue for 25-30 years. In closing I recognise the necessity of using the next few decades to develop policy framework for climate change related emigration, and to overcome the identified issues associated with legality, accessibility and customary landownership in Pacific island nations.