Construction of a renewable energy utilization system in Kiribati

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K07994
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Agricultural science in rural society and development
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: ONO Hiroshi 日本大学, 生物資源科学部, 教授 (40446480)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 地球温暖化 / 南太平洋島嶼国 / 気候変動 / SDGs

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objective of this study is to address the challenges on water resources and agricultural production conditions in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati Republic. Today, global warming has received considerable attention on south pacific atoll islands such as Kiribati. According to the report of IPCC, these countries are especially vulnerable to climate change. The main outcomes are as follows. First, people in Kiribati have been avoiding using public water and well water due to its quality deterioration. Second, although conservation of non-contaminated water resources is essential for agricultural production, the government fails to take sufficient measures against these issues for lack of human resources and funds.

Free Research Field

農業経済学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

南太平洋島嶼国における地球温暖化の影響については，一般に，海面上昇による国土の水没等に焦点が当てられるが，現地調査を通じ重要な論点が示された．具体的には，(1)地球温暖化に起因するとされるラニーニャ等の海水温変動がもたらす降水量の変化，これによる(2)生活用水及び農業用水の不足と水質劣化である．以上は，飲料水不足及び生鮮野菜供給不足を通じ，国民の栄養状態を深刻化している．今後も現地調査を継続し，地球温暖化が及ぼす広範な影響について，多角的に分析を進めたい．