The ETC is not activated in Kiribati. The ETC is focused on preparedness activities in Pacific Island countries under its Pacific Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) project, lead by WFP.

Lying at only three to four meters above sea level, the Republic of Kiribati is one of the world’s most exposed countries to extreme climate change and sea-level rise, posing existential threats to food security, freshwater resources, and national infrastructure. The low-lying atoll nation faces increasing challenges from coastal erosion to saltwater intrusion, which severely impact agricultural production and exacerbate food insecurity. More frequent and intense extreme weather events, including droughts and king tides, disrupt essential supply chains and food security across Kiribati’s 33 dispersed coral atolls.

In response, the Kiribati Joint Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (KJIP)  and Climate Change Policy  outline a strategic path towards adaptation and resilience, emphasizing coastal protection, sustainable water management, and climate-resilient agriculture. These policies reflect Kiribati's proactive stance in the face of overwhelming odds, highlighting the urgent need for global cooperation, partnership and support to safeguard its future.

Telecommunications infrastructure in Kiribati is expanding rapidly in 2025, driven by strategic investments in submarine cable systems and domestic fibre networks. The East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS), funded by Australia, Japan, and the USA, will connect South Tarawa to Nauru, Kosrae, and onward to Guam, providing resilient international connectivity. In parallel, the Kiritimati Cable Project will link Kiritimati Island to the Southern Cross NEXT cable via a submarine spur, replacing its reliance on satellite internet. Domestically, the government is building a fibre-optic backbone network in South Tarawa to connect public institutions and support private sector services, with BwebwerikiNet Limited (BNL) managing the infrastructure. These developments are part of a broader national strategy to bridge the digital divide and improve service delivery across Kiribati’s widely dispersed islands.

Responsibility for coordinating National Emergency Telecommunications efforts falls under the Ministry of Information, Communications, and Transport (MICT), under the coordination of the National Disaster Management Office.

Kiribati is categorised by the United Nations as both a ‘Small Island Developing State’ (SIDS) and a ‘Least Developed Country’ (LDC).

For NDMO contacts, visit the Kiribati country page on the Pacific Climate Change portal.