Photo Aaron Packard

Seafarers from ITF-affiliate KIOSU (Kiribati Islands Overseas Seafarers’ Union) came together to discuss climate change at the ITF’s first workshop on climate change in the Pacific (6-8 September 2012). They were joined by seafarers from Fiji Maritime Workers’ Association and Tuvalu Overseas Seafarers’ Union, and representatives from the Kiribati government, 350.org (an environmental campaigning organisation) and KiriCAN (a local environmental community organisation). Kiribati, where the workshop was hosted, is made up of 33 atolls which are very low lying and therefore highly vulnerable to rising sea level. The seafarers of Kiribati are key to the economy, making up 15% of GDP from their income.

Participants discussed the impacts of climate change, practical measures for adaption and developed an action plan for KIOSU seafarers.  They also looked at ways to communicate the issue within their communities, on board ship and internationally, and identified potential partners for this work. The workshop led to the formation of the KIOSU climate change task force, which will take forward the work on climate change and put the action plan into practice.

The workshop was opened by a welcome from the Kiribati Minister of Commerce. He highlighted the focus given to climate change by the Kiribati government, whose president has been vocal at high-level international meetings on the vulnerability of Kiribati to climate change and the need for developed countries to reduce emissions.  He also highlighted the positive impact seafarers’ overseas earnings have on the Kiribati economy.

Mark Davis, ITF Asia Pacific deputy regional secretary and Ioteba Tekee, general secretary of KIOSU welcomed the participants. They emphasised the importance of this workshop for Kiribati seafarers to understand and take action on climate change, because of the impact on the country (which is barely one metre above sea level) and potentially the effect on the labour supply.

Aaron Packard (Oceania Region Coordinator) 350.org gave a presentation on the science and impacts of climate change in the Pacific. He highlighted actions that 350.org and their local partner organisations have taken, ways to increase resilience and the particular impact of climate change on Kiribati:

• Average temperature will continue to increase: by about 1°C by 2030, by about 2°C by 2055. Possibly more.
• More very hot days
• Changing rainfall patterns
• More extreme rain days
• Sea level rise
• Changing fish catches, coral cover and mangrove area

Fepuali Kitiseni from Tuvalu (TOSU), another a low-lying country in the Pacific, spoke about the impact of climate change in his country, the adaptation responses available to them and the challenge for low-lying small islands to highlight this issue effectively to the international community to reduce emissions. He emphasised the importance of countries, communities and unions working together.

Day two of the workshop was opened by Claire Anterea from KiriCAN (Kiribati climate action network) who has been working with communities in Kiribati and the outer islands to raise awareness and take action on climate change. Local people have noticed the changes in rainfall, longer drought periods, reduced food crops (the bread fruit have been much smaller than previously) and saltwater intrusion into freshwater wells particularly in the Northern islands of Butaritari and Makin.  She also gave examples of measures that have been adopted to increase resilience, such as rainwater tanks collecting runoff from the roofs of community buildings. Her work focuses on local community responses and ways of working with other small islands states to fight against climate change.

The discussion that followed included the potential for a sub-regional response at the Pacific Forum, other adaptation methods, the empowerment of women and young people in the community to further this work and how seafarers can use their influence and economic power to pressure government. The workshop then divided into small working groups to discuss the impact of climate change that they have already experienced.

Mark Davis and Ali Howes (ITF education department) gave a presentation about the ITF’s work on climate change and transport and the role of unions in developing this. A second low-lying island workshop will be held in the Caribbean in October.

Inoke Ratotodro (Fiji) discussed what the Fijian response had been in relation to climate change as a small island state and how the Pacific Island Framework for Action on Climate Change aimed to ‘ensure Pacific Island people build their capacity to be resilient to the risks and impact of climate change’. Interestingly the government in Fiji plan to shift villages to higher level rather than building sea walls, however this option is not available to Kiribati as there is very little higher ground. He also looked at the impact of El Niño southern oscillation which also affects the weather patterns over a 2-5 year period in the Pacific.

The participants then split into groups to discuss how to address climate change as seafarers, on board ship and through the union in Kiribati. They then mapped potential stakeholders and outlined the role and structure of KIOSU in carrying forward the work on climate change.

On day three, Robite Teaete, acting environmental awareness officer from the Kiribati government environment and conservation division explained more about the work of the government. This year the government has drafted the Kiribati integrated environmental policy. The government works with local NGOs and community groups to raise awareness and involve people in adaptation programmes.

During the workshop, the government agreed to work with the union, KIOSU, as seafarers are a key sector of the economy and it is important for them to be part of the work. The government will continue to deliver training on climate change, involve members in adaptation initiatives and consultation on climate change. The Maritime Training Centre has already identified climate change as essential for seafarers training and has integrated climate change and personal and social responsibility into their courses. While the government does work with NGOs on environmental work, this tended to be on an ad hoc basis and better communication and coordination is needed. The government agreed this and plans to communicate better and more collaboratively with NGOs and KIOSU, as well as ensure there is a mechanism for them to feed into the government’s work. The union was conscious of not duplicating existing work elsewhere, but to add value to the work as seafarers and a key part of the economy.  KIOSU and its members also understood the value of engaging politically at all levels on climate change and other issues especially relevant to seafarers.
Particularly at the international level, it is vital that there is a clear and consistent message from Kiribati and coordination between the government and other groups is essential.

The final part of the workshop enabled the participants to develop an action plan for KIOSU. It was agreed that there would be a KIOSU climate change task force, made up of initially participants selected from the workshop, but then elected at the next AGM. They will develop a strategic plan for the task force and meet with the core partners (government and KiriCAN) to further the work.

The climate change workshop was followed by training on the FOC campaign.

Thanks to the LO-TCO for their support of our work.