At an average of just 1.5m
above sea level, the Maldives is the lowest lying country on the planet. Rising
sea levels are now devastating its economy, one-third of which relies on
tourism. The mere talk of a possible submersion had been denting investor
confidence in recent years. By now, countless islands are being abandoned as
the reality of global warming begins to bite. A mass evacuation plan is
underway, with many of the nation's citizens resettling in Sri Lanka, India and
Australia.
Even
small increases in sea level are likely
to worsen existing environmental challenges on the islands, such as persistent
flooding from waves often generated by storms far away. Sea level rise is also likely to
place added stress on the Maldives'
already scarce freshwater resources. Because
of the low elevation of the Maldives,
this island nation is especially at risk.
Warmer
temperatures are causing sea level to rise for two reasons. The first
reason has to do with warmer water temperatures. As water gets warmer, it takes
up more space. With sea levels rising dramatically in the past few decades, the
islands will suffer the most as they eventually become entirely submerged.
Tuvalu could be uninhabitable by 2050, with
some islands such as Kiribati being completely gone by 2100.
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