Coastal Zone Management pty ltd.

With over 300 people attending, the Kiribati COP 15 Side Event was a great success. Dr Robert Kay represented CZM at the event, held on 9 December 2009 in Copenhagen, and presenting findings from ongoing adaptation work undertaken in Kiribati, under the KAP II project.

Other presenter, such as Tessie Lambourne, Kiribati's foreign secretary, were clear that if islanders had to leave their homes, they would not be environmental refugees. I-Kiribati would be trained to emigrate as skilled workers. "Nobody in this room would want to leave their homeland. It is our spiritual connection to our ancestors. We do not want to leave our homeland" Tessie said.

Feedback about the event was extremely positive. Mr Betarim Rimon, Secretary to the President commented, "after the session, we received numerous comments saying that our side-event was the first that had cleverly blended emotion with facts...and hence the delivery of the powerful message."

"I was told that one Minister and one Senator from Australia also attended while one US Senior Adviser was also there" Mr Rimon said.

A webcast of the event is available through the UNFCCC website.