Climate change in the Maldives

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The Maldives government have adapted infrastructure in capital city Male to the threats of climate change, including beginning to build a wall around the city. Male.jpg
The Maldives government have adapted infrastructure in capital city Malé to the threats of climate change, including beginning to build a wall around the city.

Climate change is a major issue for the Maldives. As an archipelago of low-lying islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean, the existence of the Maldives is severely threatened by sea level rise. By 2050, 80% of the country could become uninhabitable due to global warming. [1] According to the World Bank, with "future sea levels projected to increase in the range of 10 to 100 centimeters by the year 2100, the entire country could be submerged". [2] The Maldives is striving to adapt to climate change, and Maldivian authorities have been prominent in international political advocacy to implement climate change mitigation.

Contents

Sea level rise

Several islands of the Maldives are threatened by sea level rise. Bolifushi.jpg
Several islands of the Maldives are threatened by sea level rise.

In 1988, Maldivian authorities believed that rising seas could already entirely cover the nation within the next 30 years, stating that "an estimated rise of 20 to 30 centimetres in the next 20 to 40 years [would] be 'catastrophic'". [3] By 2021, 90% of islands in the Maldives experienced severe erosion, 97% of the country no longer had fresh groundwater, and more than 50% of the national budget was being spent on efforts to adapt to the effects of climate change. The country lost one of its primary natural defenses in a 2016 bleaching event that affected about 60% of its coral reefs. [1]

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 2007 report predicted the upper limit of the sea level rises will be 59 centimetres (23 in) by 2100, which means that most of the Maldives' 200 inhabited islands may need to be abandoned. [4] According to researchers from the University of Southampton, the Maldives are the third most endangered island nation due to flooding from climate change as a percentage of population. [5]

In 2020, a three-year study at the University of Plymouth which looked at the Maldives and the Marshall Islands, found that tides move sediment to create a higher elevation, a morphological response that could help low-lying islands adjust to sea level rise and keep the islands habitable. The research also reported that sea walls were compromising the islands’ ability to adjust to rising sea levels and that island drowning is an inevitable outcome for islands with coastal structures like sea walls. [6] Hideki Kanamaru, natural resources officer with the Food and Agriculture Organization in Asia-Pacific, said the study provided a "new perspective" on how island nations could tackle the challenge of sea-level rise, and that even if islands can adapt naturally to higher seas by raising their own crests, humans still needed to double down on global warming and protection for island populations. [7]

Effects on people

Most people in the Maldives live on small, flat, densely populated atolls that are threatened by violent storms or even the slightest sea level rise. The capital Malé is especially threatened because it is on a small, flat, extremely densely populated atoll that is surrounded by sea walls, and other barriers to protect against storms. This means the Malé atoll cannot change shape in response to rising sea levels and is increasingly reliant on expensive engineering solutions. [8]

Climate change will also have significant implications for tourism in the Maldives. [9]

Effects on the environment

Coral reef in Baa Atoll. Baa Atoll (Voavah).JPG
Coral reef in Baa Atoll.

The Maldives contains 3% of the world's coral reefs, [10] which are impacted by climate change. [11] The 2016 global coral bleaching event greatly impacted coral reefs across the Maldives, with such events expected to become more frequent and severe due to climate change. [10] [12]

Mitigation and adaptation

Mitigation

In 2009, President Mohamed Nasheed announced a plan to make the country carbon neutral and pursue a renewable energy transition in the following decade. [13] Maldives planned to eliminate or offset all of its greenhouse gas emissions. At the 2009 International Climate Talks, Nasheed explained that:

For us swearing off fossil fuels is not only the right thing to do, but it is also in our economic self-interest... Pioneering countries will free themselves from the unpredictable price of foreign oil; they will capitalise on the new green economy of the future, and they will enhance their moral standing giving them greater political influence on the world stage. [14]

In 2017, the government of Abdulla Yameen changed the policy, instead aiming to be a low carbon country and prioritising development. Environment minister Thoriq Ibrahim said "We are going nowhere. The dream [of making the Maldives carbon neutral] is over. We are looking to be a low-carbon country." [15]

Adaptation

Male, Maldives' capital, is threatened by climate change. Male Maldives (2).jpg
Malé, Maldives' capital, is threatened by climate change.

To defend against climate change and the resulting sea level rise, the national government of the Maldives has prepared a comprehensive National Adaptation Programme of Action, that attempts to critically consider and alleviate many of the serious threats the Maldives faces. [16] The Maldives has implemented measures to combat sea level rise, including a wall around the capital Malé [17] and refurnishing local infrastructure, particularly ports. [18] The country began a large-scale land reclamation project in Hulhumalé in the late 1990s, partly in preparation for relocation from elsewhere in the country. [1] A Dutch company has proposed building 5000 floating homes near Malé. [19]

In 2008, Nasheed announced plans to look into purchasing new land in India, Sri Lanka, and Australia because of his concerns about global warming, and the possibility of much of the islands being inundated by the rising sea. The purchase of land will be made from a fund generated by tourism. The president explained his intentions: "We do not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for decades". [20]

International cooperation

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed speaks at the launch of the Climate Vulnerability Monitor in 2010. Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Maldives, at the launch of the Climate Vulnerability Monitor.jpg
Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed speaks at the launch of the Climate Vulnerability Monitor in 2010.

Advocacy for climate change mitigation is a key component of the Maldives' foreign policy. [21] Concerns over sea level rise were expressed by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom at the 1997 United Nations General Assembly. [22] President Mohamed Nasheed said in 2012 that "If carbon emissions continue at the rate they are climbing today, my country will be under water in seven years." [23] He called for more climate change mitigation action while on the American television shows The Daily Show [24] and the Late Show with David Letterman , [23] and hosted "the world's first underwater cabinet meeting" in 2009 to raise awareness of the threats posed by climate change. [25] [26] [27]

Former President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said in 2016 "to the three hundred thousand inhabitants of the Maldives none of these threats compare, in magnitude and likelihood, to global climate change and consequent sea level rise." [16] Former environment minister for the Maldives, Mohamed Aslam, said "If Maldives can do it, you can do it. It's important to us not just to talk but to lead by example". [8]

Society and climate change

Public opinion

A 2017 study of Maldivians' public opinion on climate change found that "more than 50% of respondents perceive future sea-level rise to be a serious challenge at the national level and they accept that migration from islands to other countries might be a potential option", although religious and cultural factors played a role. [28]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldives</span> Island country in South Asia

The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as Maldive Islands, is a country and archipelagic state in South Asia in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Maldives</span>

The history of the Maldives is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions, comprising the areas of South Asia and Indian Ocean; and the modern nation consisting of 26 natural atolls, comprising 1194 islands. Historically, the Maldives have held a strategic importance due to its location on the major marine routes of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives' nearest neighbours are the British Indian Ocean Territory, Sri Lanka and India. The United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and some Indian kingdoms have had cultural and economic ties with the Maldives for centuries. In addition to these countries, Maldivians also traded with Aceh and many other kingdoms in, what is today, Indonesia and Malaysia. The Maldives provided the main source of cowrie shells, then used as a currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast. Most probably Maldives were influenced by Kalingas of ancient India who were earliest sea traders to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from India and were responsible for the spread of Buddhism. Stashes of Chinese crockery found buried in various locations in the Maldives also show that there was direct or indirect trade contact between China and the Maldives. In 1411 and 1430, the Chinese admiral Zheng He (鄭和) visited the Maldives. The Chinese also became the first country to establish a diplomatic office in the Maldives, when the Chinese nationalist government based in Taipei opened an embassy in Malé in 1966. This office has since been replaced by the embassy of the People's Republic of China.

The politics of the Maldives take place in the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the Head of Government. Executive power is exercised by the government. The President heads the executive branch and appoints the Cabinet; like many presidential democracies, each member of the cabinet need to be approved by the Parliament. The President, along with their pick for vice president, is directly elected by the denizens to a five-year term by a secret ballot. Once in office, they could be re-elected to a second 5-year term, which is the limit allowed by the Constitution. The current President of the Maldives is Mohamed Muizzu, when his predecessor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih lost the 2023 Maldivian presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of the Maldives</span>

Maldives is an island country in the Indian Ocean, South Asia, south-southwest of India. It has a total land size of 298 km2 (115 sq mi) which makes it the smallest country in Asia. It consists of approximately 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making this one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world. It has the 31st largest exclusive economic zone of 923,322 km2 (356,497 sq mi). Composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, the atolls are situated atop a submarine ridge, 960 km (600 mi) long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south. Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. For administrative purposes the Maldives government organized these atolls into twenty-one administrative divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maumoon Abdul Gayoom</span> President of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, ,NGIV, is a Maldivian politician who served as President of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. After serving as transport minister, he was nominated president by the People's Majlis and succeeded Ibrahim Nasir in 1978. He was defeated in 2008 during the first Presidential Elections after democratic reforms in the Maldives. He holds the nations highest award, "The Most Honourable Order of Distinguished Rule of Ghaazee", presented to him in 2013. Maumoon was the longest-serving president in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in the Maldives</span>

Tourism is the largest economic industry in the Maldives, as it plays an important role in earning foreign exchange revenues and employing 25,000 people in the tertiary sector of the country. The archipelago of the Maldives is the main source of attraction to many tourists visiting the island country. Chinese entrepreneurs have been swiftly amassing assets connected to the tourism sector in the Maldives. Given that tourism is the primary economic driver in the Maldives, this trend is affording the Chinese substantial influence over the nation's economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibrahim Nasir</span> President of the Maldives from 1968 to 1978

Al Ameer Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan, KCMG, NGIV commonly known as Ibrahim Nasir, was a Maldivian politician adhering to the non-aligned ideology and staunch anti-imperialist. Nasir served as the Prime Minister of the Maldives from 1957 to 1968 under the monarchy, and later the first President of the Second Republic of Maldives from 1968 to 1978. Nasir served two terms, then he decided to retire, even though the People's Majlis voted him in for a third term. Nasir is remembered as an independence hero for guiding the Maldives to independence from the British Empire, he is also credited for establishing the tourism industry in the Maldives, as well as rapidly modernizing and developing the country and economy.

Black Friday, August 13, 2004, was the crackdown by the Maldivian National Security Service (NSS) — later Maldivian National Defence Force — on a peaceful protest in the capital city of Maldives, Malé. This unplanned and unorganized demonstration was the largest such protest in the country's history. Beginning on the evening of August 12, 2004, the demonstration grew and continued until it was forcefully ended on the afternoon of August 13, 2004. Protesters initially demanding the freeing of the pro-reformists arrested on the afternoon of August 12, 2004. As the protest continued to grow, people demanded the resignation of president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who had been in power since 1978. What started as a peaceful demonstration ended after 22 hours, as the country's darkest day in recent history. Several people were severely injured as NSS personnel used riot batons and teargas on unarmed civilians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohamed Nasheed</span> President of the Maldives from 2008 to 2012

Mohamed Nasheed GCSK, also known as Anni, is a Maldivian politician and activist who served as president of the Maldives from 2008 until his resignation in 2012. A founding member of the Maldivian Democratic Party, he subsequently served as the 19th speaker of the People's Majlis from May 2019 until his resignation in November 2023. He is the first democratically elected president of the Maldives and the only president to resign from office. He is currently a member of The Democrats.

The 2005 Maldivian civil unrest refers to the civil unrest that broke out in Malé, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll and Addu Atoll of the Maldives on August 12, 2005, which led to events that supported the democratic reform of the country. This unrest was provoked by the arrest of Mohamed Nasheed - an open critic of the president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom - and the subsequent demolition of the Dhunfini tent, used by the members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for their gatherings. Supporters of MDP were quick to demonstrate. They started calling for the resignation of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, soon after Nasheed's arrest. Several arrests were made on the first night followed by the demolition of the Dhunfini tent. The demolition complicated the situation further provoking the unrest. The unrest grew violent on the third night, on August 14, 2005, due to the methods used in the attempts by the authority to stop the demonstration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral island</span> Island formed from coral and associated material

A coral island is a type of island formed from coral detritus and associated organic material. It occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas, typically as part of a coral reef which has grown to cover a far larger area under the sea. The term low island can be used to distinguish such islands from high islands, which are formed through volcanic action. Low islands are formed as a result of sedimentation upon a coral reef or of the uplifting of such islands.

Presidential elections were held in the Maldives on 8 and 23 October 2008, the first democratic elections in the country. As no candidate won a majority in the first round, a runoff was held on 28 October between the two candidates among the contestants who received the most votes, incumbent president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed, who received the second most votes after Gayoom in the first round. Nasheed was elected to the office after winning a majority in the runoff, unseating incumbent president Gayoom who held the office for six terms, lasting three decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–Maldives relations</span> Bilateral relations

India and Maldives are neighbours sharing a maritime border. Relations have been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation. India continues to contribute to maintaining security as well as providing financial aid on the island nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry in the Maldives</span>

The fishing industry in the Maldives is the island's second main industry. According to national tradition in the words of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, "Fishing is the lifeblood of our nation, it is inborn. From the soil on which we live, to the sea around us, it remains an integral part of our existence. Fishing, and our country and its people, [are] one and shall remain inseparable forever." The Maldives has an abundance of aquatic life and species of fish. Common are tuna, groupers, dolphin fish, barracuda, rainbow runner, trevally and squirrelfish and many more. Aside from being of essential importance to the economy, fishing is also a popular recreational activity in the Maldives, not only among locals but by tourists. The islands have numerous fishing resorts which cater for these activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Tuvalu</span> Emissions, impacts and responses of Tuvalu related to climate change

Climate change is particularly threatening for the long-term habitability of the island country of Tuvalu, which has a land area of only 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) and an average elevation of less than 2 metres (6.6 ft) above sea level, with the highest point of Niulakita being about 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level. Potential threats to the country due to climate change include rising sea levels, increasingly severe tropical cyclones, high temperatures, and drought. King tides can combine with storm surges and the rising sea level to inundate the low lying atolls.

<i>The Island President</i> 2011 American film

The Island President is a 2011 documentary film about the efforts of then-President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed to tackle rising sea levels resulting from climate change. Produced by Actual Films and directed by Jon Shenk, the film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. The film received critical acclaim and won the Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award for Documentaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effects of climate change on small island countries</span>

The effects of climate change on small island countries are affecting people in coastal areas through sea level rise, increasing heavy rain events, tropical cyclones and storm surges. These effects of climate change threaten the existence of many island countries, their peoples and cultures. They also alter ecosystems and natural environments in those countries. Small island developing states (SIDS) are a heterogenous group of countries but many of them are particularly at risk to climate change. Those countries have been quite vocal in calling attention to the challenges they face from climate change. For example, the Maldives and nations of the Caribbean and Pacific Islands are already experiencing considerable impacts of climate change. It is critical for them to implement climate change adaptation measures fast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldivian diaspora</span> Ethnic group

The Maldivian diaspora refers to the community of Maldivians, speakers of the Maldivian language, who have either emigrated from the Republic of Maldives or grew up outside of the Maldives speaking Dhivehi as a first language. The Republic of Maldives is a South Asian country geographically located in the Indian Ocean, Laccadive Sea and Arabian Sea. Maldivians have historically emigrated from the Maldives for numerous reasons including low economic opportunity, political repression and education. India and Sri Lanka currently host the most Maldivians living outside of the Maldives, but other diaspora communities can be found in Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shauna Aminath</span> Maldivian activist and government administrator

Shauna Aminath is a Maldivian politician and former Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, and Technology of the Maldives.

Maldivian presidential assassination attempts have been numerous, ranging from the early twentieth century since the establishment of the first republic of the Maldives. In 1980, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was first Maldivian president to experience an assassination attempt, when three attempts to overthrow Maumoon's government and assassinate the president.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Facing dire sea level rise threat, Maldives turns to climate change solutions to survive". ABC News. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Climate Change in the Maldives!". World Bank . Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "Threat to islands". The Canberra Times . No. 19348, Vol. 63. Agence France-Presse. 26 September 1988. p. 6. Retrieved 15 November 2021. A gradual rise in average sea level is threatening to completely cover this Indian Ocean nation of 1196 small islands within the next 30 years, according to authorities. The Environmental Affairs Director, Mr Hussein Shihab, said an estimated rise of 20 to 30 centimetres in the next 20 to 40 years could be "catastrophic"
  4. ↑ "Where climate change threatens survival". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  5. ↑ Stephen, Marcus (14 November 2011). "A sinking feeling: Why is the president of the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru so concerned about climate change?". The New York Times Upfront . Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015. Most Endangered Island nations at highest risk for flooding due to climate change 3 Maldives (Indian Ocean)
  6. ↑ "Physical impacts of climate change on coral reef islands". University of Plymouth. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  7. ↑ Michael Taylor, Small islands may not disappear under rising seas, researchers find Archived 14 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine at trust.org, accessed 29 June 2020
  8. 1 2 Warne, Kennedy (13 February 2015). "Will Pacific Island Nations Disappear as Seas Rise? Maybe Not". National Geographic . Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  9. ↑ Carlsen, Jack; Butler, Richard (2011). "The Risk of Climate Change for Tourism in the Maldives". Island Tourism: Sustainable Perspectives. CABI. ISBN   978-1-84593-679-2.
  10. 1 2 "Maldives coral reefs under stress from climate change: research survey reveals over 60% of corals bleached". IUCN. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  11. ↑ Udhma, Fathmath (29 June 2022). "Protecting 30% of the global ocean and utilising 100% of the ocean sustainably is important: Minister Shauna". raajje.mv. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  12. ↑ "More than 60% of Maldives' coral reefs hit by bleaching". the Guardian. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "Carbon-neutral goal for Maldives". 15 March 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  14. ↑ "Climate Change Gridlock: Where Do We Go From Here? (Part 1)". Making Contact. National Radio Project. 28 June 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  15. ↑ "'We need development': Maldives switches focus from climate threat to mass tourism". the Guardian. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  16. 1 2 "National Adaptation Programme of Action." Republic of Maldives. 21 February 2016. Accessed 2 August 2022.
  17. ↑ Hamilton, Jon (8 January 2008). "Maldives Builds Barriers to Global Warming". NPR . Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  18. ↑ chaamjamal (14 May 2020). "THE SINKING MALDIVES SOAP OPERA OF CLIMATE SCIENCE". Thongchai Thailand. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "The Maldives is being swallowed by the sea. Can it adapt?". Environment. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  20. ↑ Ramesh, Randeep (10 November 2008). "Paradise almost lost: Maldives seek to buy a new homeland". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  21. ↑ Jaschik, Kevin (1 March 2014). "Small states and international politics: Climate change, the Maldives and Tuvalu". International Politics. 51 (2): 272–293. doi:10.1057/ip.2014.5. ISSN   1740-3898. S2CID   145290890.
  22. ↑ Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. "Address by his Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gahoom, President of the Republic of Maldives, at the nineteenth special session of the United Nations General Assembly for the purpose of an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of agenda, 21 – 24 June 1997". Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 6 January 2006.
  23. 1 2 Catoe, Linda. "Endangered island nations call for global action on climate change". The Guilfordian. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  24. ↑ "Exclusive – Mohamed Nasheed Extended Interview Pt. 2". The Daily Show . Comedy Central. 2 April 2012. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  25. ↑ Lang, Olivia (17 October 2009). "Maldives leader in climate change stunt". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  26. ↑ "Maldives cabinet makes a splash". BBC News. 17 October 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  27. ↑ "Maldives government holds underwater cabinet meeting". The Daily Telegraph . 17 October 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  28. ↑ Stojanov, Robert; Duží, Barbora; Kelman, Ilan; Němec, Daniel; Procházka, David (December 2017). "Local perceptions of climate change impacts and migration patterns in Malé, Maldives". The Geographical Journal. 183 (4): 370–385. doi: 10.1111/geoj.12177 .
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