The people of the Cartaret Islands in Papua New Guinea, who are facing inundation from rising sea levels, have appealed to the Australian government for help.
The Cartaret Islanders have developed a relocation plan to gradually move families to Bougainville, about 80 kilometres away.
The project’s name, Tulele Peisa, means “sailing the waves on our own”, but CEO Ursula Rakova says the non-government organisation is in need of support from its biggest neighbour.
“Australia should really direct adaptation funds to communities who already have plans for adaptation programs,” she said.
The plan involves keeping the Cartaret Islanders together to preserve their identity and culture and close enough to home to fish their own reefs.
Ms Rakova is in Brisbane to mark the 10th anniversary of the Australia Pacific Earth Charter addressing climate change, at a conference starting today.
