Life-threatening Sea Level Rise in Kiribati

TARAWA, KIRIBATI - 2015/09/24: A dead coral reef. Several vital coral reefs in Kiribati have been killed by warmer sea temperatures caused by climate change. The people of Kiribati are under pressure to relocate due to sea level rise. Each year, the sea level rises by about half an inch. Though this may not sound like much, it is a big deal considering the islands are only a few feet above sea level, which puts them at risk of flooding and sea swells. It is well agreeable that the people of Kiribati account for little to nothing in terms of green house emissions but are forced to face the direct consequences of global warming. And with an average age of 22, Kiribati's future generations are at risk of potentially lethal sea level rise. (Photo by Jonas Gratzer/LightRocket via Getty Images)