KQ4b. The Maldives

Case study of one island community to illustrate: the threats to island communities, the impact on communities, the adaptations by governments and communities in both the short- and long-term

The Maldives (basic context)

• North-central Indian Ocean
• 1000 low-lying islands
• Highest point being 2.4m

What are the threats to the Maldives?

• current sea level rise is 3mm per year but this is expected to accelerate
• 80% of island could be uninhabitable by 2050
• 2016 coral bleaching meant they lost their defence to erosion, healthy coral reefs absorb 97% of wave energy
• Periodic flooding by storm surges
• Coastal and beach erosion

How many mm of sea level rise is expected by 2085?

500mm

Describe the Maldives vulnerabilities in terms of climate change and sea level rise.

• 80% of power station are located less than 50m from the shoreline
• More than 75% of the communities infrastructure is located less than 75m from the shore
• 5 airports 50m from the sea
• 90% of waste disposal sites less than 100m from the sea

What percentage of infrastructure is located 75m from the shore?

75% community infrastructure

80% of power stations

What are the economic impacts of climate change on the Maldives?

• coral reef destruction = loss of tourism, fishing industry source and defence of coastal erosion
• Slat water intrusion - affects soil and vegetation impacting agriculture, may lead to the need of de-salination plants
• Coastal flooding may damage fish processing plant which are their largest export producing 10% of GDP

What percentage of the Maldives GDP is made up fro tourism?

33%

What are the social impacts of climate change on the Maldives?

• `Houses could be damaged or destroyed
• Severe flooding could make entire communities homeless

What are the political impacts of climate change on the Maldives?

• long-term plans include buying land in other countries like India and Australia
• Maldives government had to ask Japanese gov for $60m to build 3m high sea wall

What are the environmental impacts of climate change on the Maldives?

• saltwater intrusion impacts on terrestrial ecosystems
• Soil on most of the islands is shallow and could be easily washed away
• Maldives gov have pledged to be carbon neutral
• Coastal erosion and destruction of habitats

What are the 5 main adaptations that have been suggested as a way for the Maldives to cope with climate change

• Land reformation and sea walls
• Artificial islands
• Floating cities
• Growing Island using wave energy
• `Purchasing land abroad

How are land reformation and sea walls being used as an adaptation to climate change?

• 3m sea wall constructed around `Male, it cost $135m
• Cost efficient as its small and highly populated
• Not a universal solution, will eventually be breached

How are artificial islands being used as an adaptation to climate change?

• in 1997 the gov identified a shallow lagoon near Male
• Sediment was dredged from the sea bed, creating a 2km island 2m above sea level
• Nearly 3000 people now live on that island

How many people live on the new artificial island - Hullhhuale

3000

How are floating cities being used as an adaptation to climate change?

• floating city was designed b ya Dutch engineering firm, it will have 5000 homes tethered to a lagoon
• Construction is due to start in 2023 and be complete by 2027
• Hoped to house 20,000
• Artificial coral banks will be attached to the underside of the structure to stimulate coral growth

How many people does the floating city hope to house?

20,000 in 5000 homes

How growing islands using wave energy be used as an adaptation to climate change?

• partially submerged ramps cause deposition as water is forced to rise over them
• Initial project started in 2019
• 50cm of deposition over 4 moths

How is purchasing land abroad being used as an adaptation to climate change?

• it has been suggested that land could be bought in India, Sri Lank or Australia for 300,000 environmental refugees

How many environmental refugees would be relocated to different countries?

300,000

How has land reclamation been used as an adaptation strategy in the Maldives?

Island of Hulhumale

• reclaimed land built 1.8m above sea level
• Cost $33m
• Attracts huge numbers of tourists

How many tourists does the reclaimed land on the Island of Hulhumale attract each year?

500,000

What impacts did the sea wall around the island of Male have?

• Japan paid for 99% of the sea wall, so there was little impact on national budget
• However, its now the Maldives most unattractive island
• This is significant for a country dependent on tourism