Kiribati man seeks to become world's first climate refugee

The Auckland lawyer for Ioane Teitiota of Kiribati, who has asked the High Court to recognize him and his family as climate change refugees on the grounds that they face serious harm if they return to the island, due to extreme high tides which are destroying crops and contaminating the islands only fresh water acquifer. Kiribati is the worlds lowest lying nation - comprising of 33 islands that are no higher than 2 metres above sea level.