World in disunion: Climate change and the 2023 Rugby World Cup
Every four years, the Rugby World Cup unites nations in a spectacle of sport. It’s a time that often reflects a world divided by unequal wealth and power — paralleling the injustice of climate crisis impacts.
This year, three of the smallest countries in the tournament, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, share the playing field with some of the biggest historical carbon polluters; UK, Japan and tournament hosts France.
This report calculates the devastating economic harm that these climate vulnerable Pacific islands will face due to climate change. This harm is not caused by their own doing but by the countries they’ll be facing at the Rugby World Cup.
.
It’s not fair that people who’ve done the least to cause the climate crisis that are paying for its impact.
Let’s make the Rugby World Cup act as a global stage for this vital message.
The Battle for Climate Change
It’s not fair that people who’ve done the least to cause the climate crisis that are paying for its impact.
Let’s make the Rugby World Cup act as a global stage for this vital message.
Economic impact on the Pacific Islands
The Pacific islands face unique vulnerabilities: sea level rise threatens islands like Suva in Fiji, where rates are triple the global average. Entire communities are displaced due to severe weather and saltwater intrusion, jeopardizing agriculture and food security.
Projections show a staggering 40% reduction in GDP growth for these Pacific islands by 2100 if global temperatures rise by 3°C.
-
40%
The climate crisis is set to slash the economic growth of Pacific Island nations of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa by 40%.
