Page - 388 - in Loss and Damage from Climate Change - Concepts, Methods and Policy Options

388 A.Heslin Fig.16.3 Typical landscape,ArnoAtoll,Republicof theMarshall Islands.PhotoA.Heslin 16.3.2 Opportunities While an involuntary relocation of theMarshall Islands’ populationwouldmark a tragicandregrettable failureof theglobalcommunity inaddressingclimatechange, the established diaspora community in the United States offers some opportuni- ties to theMarshallese community.Marshallesemigration to theU.S. has afforded employment andeducationopportunitiesnot available in theRMI, as evidencedby the large-scalemigration that has occurredover thepast 20years.Migration to the U.S.offersanalternativetomanychallengesfacedintheRMI,whichincludescarce opportunities foremployment,withremittancesfromtheU.S. totallinganestimated 25million dollars in 2015 (PewResearch Center 2016). Additionally, population growth has increased the need for imported foods in the RMI. This reliance on imported food, and the consumption of the least expensive imported options, has caused serious health consequences in theMarshall Islands,with over 20%of the population suffering fromdiabetes and over two-thirds being overweight or obese (Ichiho et al. 2013;WorldHealthOrganization 2016).Migration to theU.S. offers accesstoadditionalmedicalservices, thoughatasubstantiallyhighercost thanthose in theRMI.Onemust view theopportunity for additional employment andhealth- carewithin thecontextof theRMI’shistory,asmanyhealthandeconomicmaladies sufferedbyMarshallesecanbe tracedback to international involvement in theMar-