People on the frontline of CLIMATE CHANGE

Carteret Islanders speaking tour

Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney 10-21 September 2007

A partnership between Tulele Peisa Incorporated ("Sailing the waves"),
Friends of the Earth Australia and Oxfam Australia

The Carteret Islanders are amongst the world's first 'climate refugees' as an entire cultural group is facing relocation due to the impacts of climate change.

While the islanders have fought for more than twenty years against the rising ocean, building sea walls and planting mangroves; storm surges and high tides continue to wash away their homes, and livelihoods.

On November 24, 2005, the Papua New Guinean government authorised the evacuation of the islands, 10 families at a time, to Bougainville. The evacuation started in early 2007 and could continue up until 2020, however, estimates suggest that by 2015, the Carteret Islands could be largely submerged and entirely uninhabitable. And while plantation land has been offered on the mainland for those relocated, there is no basic infrastructure on the plantation and much work needs to be done to make it habitable.

There are also significant cultural issues in relocating an entire population from atolls to the mainland where different food, livelihood and living conditions will affect the identity of the Carteret Islanders.

Climate change in the Pacific

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report on has projected the following changes due to climate change by the end of this century:

• Sea level increase of up to 59cms (although many climate scientist have forecast much higher sea levels than this).
• Increasing acidic oceans impacting fish stocks and marine life
• More intense tropical cyclones, heavy rains and more natural disaster.

All these impacts will be most dramatic for the poor in developing countries.

In the Pacific many nations already struggle to cope with current climate variability to which they are exposed including tropical cyclones, rainfall extremes, frequent droughts, and extreme tides.
Low-lying reef islands and atolls are especially vulnerable as small islands suffer land loss and increased beach erosion and flooding.

Where are the Carteret Islands?

The Carteret Islands are part of Papua New Guinea and located 86 kilometres northeast of Bougainville in the Pacific Ocean. The Islands are a scattering of low lying coral atolls in a horseshoe shape, with a total land area of 0.6 square kilometres and a maximum elevation of 1.5 meters above sea level. The current population of the Carteret Islands is about 2,500 people.

The tour

The tour will visit Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra and Melbourne. The aims of the tour are;

1. To raise public and political awareness in Australia of the harsh realities of climate change in developing countries, highlighting the implications for poverty and development
2. To increase pressure on the Australian government to act responsibly and with urgency in the areas of mitigation and adaptation, highlighting the need for equity in both
3. To raise funds and gather resources within Australia to enable the continuing habitation of the Islands while the process of relolcation takes place.

The speakers

Ursula was born on Huene Island, which is one of the Cartaret Islands. She grew up on Han and went to school on mainland Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. She owns land on Huene Island, which is now two smaller islands and is disappearing fast. Ursula runs Tulele Peisa, an organisation attempting to relocate of the islanders.

Bernard was born on Piul and is a fisherman. He lives the typical life of an islander - catching fish and farming food from the diminishing gardens. From time to time he sells sea cucumbers (sea slugs) to buyers for asian markets - the only income for the islanders.

What you can do

Australia has one of the highest per capita rates of emissions in the world- but we can all do a lot to reduce the impact of climate change in our homes, workplaces, communities, governments and industry.

In the home: reduce car usage by using public transport, switch to 100% green power, minimise air travel, become more energy efficient;
In the community: become active in a climate change campaign, talk to you workplace about reducing emissions, lobby your elected officials to act on climate change;
In the corridors of power: Write to the Australian government urging them to show leadership by setting targets for emissions reductions (at least 30% by 2020 and at least 80% by 2050 below 1990 levels), by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, and by balancing emission reduction efforts with adequate adaptation financing.

This national speaking tour has been organised by a partnership between Tulele Peisa Incorporated ("Sailing the waves"), Friends of the Earth Australia and Oxfam Australia.

Tulele Peisa
The Tulele Peisa Association was established by the Hapiu and Mabilu Council of Elders on the Carteret Islands. Its role is to manage and oversee the relocation of the Carteret Islanders to mainland Bougainville.

Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth (FoE) Australia is a federation of independent local groups working for a socially equitable and environmentally sustainable future. The majority of FoE's work occurs through local group activities. Climate change and climate justice is a campaign priority for FoE Australia and FoE International.
http://www.foe.org.au/

Oxfam Australia
Oxfam Australia is an Australian, independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation. Across 27 countries, Oxfam works in partnership with local communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Climate change is part of Oxfam Australia new Strategic Plan.
http://www.oxfam.org.au/

Local partners
AID/WATCH: http://www.aidwatch.org.au/
Australian Ethical: http://www.austethical.com.au/
Mineral Policy Institute: http://www.mpi.org.au/
Rising Tide Newcastle: http://www.risingtide.org.au/
Senator Kerry Nettle: http://www.kerrynettle.org.au/
Sisters of Mercy Brisbane: http://www.mercysisters.org.au/congregations/brisbane/index.html
Caritas: www.caritas.org.au/