'Te Katiteuanaaki' Kiribati for Inclusion

A campus by the sea: environment and sustainability Kiribati Institute of Technology is an active partner in helping address environment and climate change challenges in Kiribati, through planning and initiatives that actively reduce its impact on the environment. The Alumni Association partakes annually in rubbish clean-up days and mangrove planting along the coastline, to help prevent erosion in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development. These events also involve staff and raise community awareness. Kiribati Institute of Technology alumni become ambassadors for change in response to the impacts of climate change, and have received positive community engagement and appreciation when participating in these activities. Solar panels at Kiribati Institute of Technology, installed in 2016 and 2018, supply energy to the national electricity grid. Between 2017 and 2019, the electricity consumption data showed a trendline decrease, whilst the production of solar PV electricity from the panels showed a trendline increase. Increasing the awareness of staff and students to the impacts of climate change, and integrating climate change considerations into Kiribati Institute of Technology’s policies and practices, is an important aspect of the Australian Government supported Kiribati Facility. The Kiribati Institute of Technology Environmental Awareness and Action Plan outlines how to actively work towards minimising its impact on the environment and increase environmental awareness through its education offerings. Green Campus: Reduce the environmental and carbon footprint of Kiribati Institute of Technology, including its students, trainers, and staff. Green Curriculum: Deliver training and skills for a green economy, by integrating green issues in existing training packages and/or providing new green training programs and projects. Green Community: Support community level awareness and action, through knowledge-exchange and collaboration. Green Culture: Strengthen green values, ethical standards, attitudes and practices as the foundation for sustainable change. The Environmental Awareness and Action Plan responds to the vulnerability to climate change, as identified in the Government of Kiribati 20 Year Vision, and the need to ensure that staff and students are environmentally aware, and able to implement strategies to address climate change and environmental issues at an individual and community level. The response to these strategies has resulted in environment training for staff and students, including research and presentations as part of certificate training, reduction of non-recyclable products used on campus, and compliance with legislated environment protection requirements regarding e-waste and waste fluids. Mangrove planting by the Alumni Association. 19