It was widely reported in November 2005 that the islands have progressively become uninhabitable, with an estimate of their total submersion by 2015. The islanders have fought a more than twenty years battle, building a seawall and planting mangroves. However, storm surges and high tides continue to wash away homes, destroy vegetable gardens and contaminate fresh water supplies. The natural tree cover on the island is also being impacted by the incursion of saltwater contamination of the fresh water table.
There have been a number of different relocation schemes initiated since the 1980's. These have had mixed success with many of the relocated families subsequently returning home.
On 25 November 2003, the Papua New Guinean government authorized the government-funded total evacuation of the islands, 10 families at a time; the evacuation was expected to be completed by 2007, but access to funding caused numerous delays.
In October 2007 it was announced that the Papua New Guinea government would provide two million kina (USD $736,000) to begin the relocation, to be organized by Tulele Peisa of Buka, Bougainville. Five men from the island moved to Bougainville in early 2009 who built some houses and planted crops for their families to follow. It is planned to bring another 1700 people over the next five years. However, there has been no large-scale evacuation seem set into effect as of November 2011.
CNN has reported that the Carteret islanders will be the first island community in the world to undergo an organized relocation, in response to rising sea levels. The people of the Carteret are being called the world's first environmental refugees.
source: Wikipedia
Any news how things have delevoped there?
Kss07 on May 23rd, 2014
Only outdated info so far. "with an estimate of their total submersion by 2015" - this would have been more boradcasted if proven right...
Irina on May 23rd, 2014
I heard something of a women-led citizen initiative there but don't remember any names...
Ana on May 23rd, 2014
Could you find a name?
Irina on May 24th, 2014
Really, reloction don't work. The relocation island will the next to be affected and they are already fighting over the property there.
Akino on May 27th, 2014
I heard something of riots and blodshed over the relocation land
Joan55 on May 27th, 2014
Listen, I really understand your concerns. But there are two questions we have to ask right now: Is there a way to stay WITHOUT doing irreversible harm to the biodiversity? And if it wasn't to find a new location, what OTHER possibilities do we have to protect the area?
Beeerds on May 27th, 2014
Sophia, honestly, I can't hear the same shit over and over again. Are you trying to find answers by asking the same questions 3000 times?
Akino on May 27th, 2014
I will continue to ask those questions as long as you keep complaining without providibg any reasonable answer!!!!
Beeerds on May 27th, 2014