The world’s first climate change refugees

By 2015 the Carteret islands – off the coast of Papua New Guinea- could well be a mirage. The low lying atoll is sinking and sinking fast.

The ocean is rising. Salt water has eaten up the shoreline and invaded the gardens. For many, it’s time to pack up and go … but without help from the government, hundreds are stuck on this sinking atoll.
Scientists are still debating why the atoll is sinking. Paul Tsube blames global warming and the developed world for what’s happened to his island. “i think the global warming, sea level rising, destroying our island is the whole cause of the industrialised countries and i think that something has to be done by the industrialised nations so we can get some sort of assistance from them.”

For now, the only assistance available to islanders in transit in Buka is provided by one man – Taihu Pais, member for the atolls at the Bougainville assembly. His generosity has no limit.

Until the official relocation progam kicks in, it’s in Taihu Pais’ house, that islanders will find shelter during high tides or when in need of hospital care. “if there’s no space then i give them my bed and i find a place somewhere, he says. this house only caters for only a family or two but at the moment we cater for more than two families on one house. at this present time, there are over 200 people here.”

France24