Weaving, ocean identity, and climate storytelling on the frontline of rising seas
Kiribati, a remote Pacific island nation of 33 atolls and reef islands, is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels. Its cultural life — from dance and music to weaving and canoe building — reflects the intimate relationship between people, land, and ocean. Today, as the nation confronts existential threats of inundation and migration, artists and cultural leaders are placing sustainability at the heart of creative expression, using art as a way to preserve identity, advocate for climate justice, and adapt to changing realities.
Kiribati’s heritage demonstrates eco-conscious practices tied to survival and beauty:
Weaving: Mats, baskets, and clothing woven from pandanus leaves and coconut fibers, central to daily life and ceremonies.
Canoe building: Traditional outrigger canoes crafted from wood and coconut materials, enabling navigation and fishing.
Dance & performance (te mwaie): Storytelling dances often depict the sea, fishing, birds, and ecological cycles.
Music & chant: Songs carry ancestral knowledge of navigation, winds, and tides.
Tattooing & ornamentation: Body art historically tied to identity and nature.
Oral traditions: Legends link ancestors to the ocean and stars, embedding ecological respect.
These sustainable traditions remain pillars of cultural resilience in the climate era.
Artists and youth collectives repurpose plastic bottles, fishing nets, and marine debris into sculptures, costumes, and community installations that highlight the dangers of pollution and rising seas.
Weaving traditions are being revived with fair-trade cooperatives and adapted into contemporary eco-fashion using pandanus and coconut fibers.
Kiribati musicians compose songs about climate migration, coral loss, and resilience, amplifying the nation’s struggle at global climate summits and Pacific forums.
Community theatre and youth performances dramatize themes of saltwater intrusion, food security, and relocation, helping communities process ecological changes.
Events like Kiribati Independence Day celebrations and regional Pacific arts festivals showcase eco-crafts, dances, and performances carrying messages of climate adaptation and cultural survival.
Weaving cooperatives – sustaining pandanus crafts with eco-conscious innovation.
Kiribati climate musicians – performing at UN and Pacific climate forums.
Youth art collectives – using recycled art to raise ocean awareness.
Traditional dance troupes – blending ecological storytelling with performance.
Regional collaborations – linking Kiribati with Fiji, Tuvalu, and Marshall Islands eco-arts initiatives.
Rising sea levels, threatening land, homes, and cultural spaces.
Saltwater intrusion, damaging crops and pandanus plants for weaving.
Migration pressures, risking cultural erosion in diaspora.
Limited resources & infrastructure, constraining arts programs.
Global visibility, as small island voices compete on the world stage.
Eco-tourism & cultural diplomacy: Showcasing Kiribati weaving, dance, and music as part of climate-conscious tourism and advocacy.
Global climate advocacy through art: Positioning Kiribati’s artists as cultural diplomats in climate negotiations.
Diaspora networks: Strengthening cultural continuity for I-Kiribati communities abroad.
Pacific eco-arts alliances: Deepening collaboration with Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, and Fiji for shared visibility.
In Kiribati, sustainability in the arts is not just about ecological awareness — it is about cultural survival in the face of rising seas. From pandanus weaving and canoe traditions to recycled ocean art, climate songs, and eco-performance, Kiribati’s artists are turning creativity into resilience and global advocacy. As the atolls face existential threats, the arts serve as both a guardian of heritage and a voice for climate justice, ensuring that Kiribati’s culture continues to inspire the world even as its shores transform.