Republic of Kiribati is an island country in Oceania in the central Pacific Ocean. The permanent population is ~119,000, more than half of whom live on Tarawa atoll. The state comprises 32 atolls and one remote raised coral island, Banaba. There is a total land area of 811 square kilometres dispersed over 3.5 million of ocean.

Kiribati is experiencing increases in wave height and frequency which is placing more pressure on the islands and their seawalls (Republic of Kiribati). With increases in wave heights comes an increase in flooding and destruction of property which poses both an environmental and economic threat to the people. The average elevation in Kiribati is less than 2 meters above sea level and most of the islands are projected to be underwater by 2050 (COP 23, 2018). Relocation of the people of Kiribati is their only chance for survival. In 2017, Kiribati purchased 6,000 acres of land in Fiji for resettlement.