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The sea level is rising, the islands of the Maldives in an existential crisis

2022-11-27 23:30:01Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
The sea level is rising, the islands of the Maldives in an existential crisis
Maldives

As sea levels rise, low-lying countries like the Maldives face an existential crisis. The world must fight to save these islands and communities before they disappear under the ocean.

The beautiful beaches in the Maldives are a real paradise. But these sandy shores and the communities here face a major threat – climate change.

The Maldives consists of 1,200 islands spread over an area of ​​90,000 square kilometers in the Indian Ocean. The islands form 26 rings of coral reefs, many of which have become a desired tourist destination.

The corals of the Maldives provide the right habitat for a multitude of underwater creatures. The land is on average only 1.5 meters above sea level. This means that climate change creates difficulties for the whole country.

"Maldives are not only an oceanic country, but also located at a very low altitude. So we have a combination of factors. We have more frequent storms. We have sea level rise. And we have marine heat waves that are damaging the corals and these communities in some cases," says Dr. Lucy Woodall, scientist at the British institute "Nekton".

Climate change has already caused damage. In 1998, a heat wave in the Indian Ocean raised temperatures by 4-6 degrees Celsius, damaging and killing corals. It took over 15 years for the coral reef to recover. Another such devastation occurred in 2016. These heat waves are expected to become more frequent and stronger, and this precious habitat may one day be unable to recover.

Scientists want to study the surrounding waters to fully understand what is at stake.

"We are in a situation where we are losing coral belts, but we don't know what else we are losing. This would give us an opportunity to fully understand the situation, to come up with a possible assessment of what is the real impact of climate change, as well as constructions along the coast and other processes that are affecting these waters", says Hana Amir, a marine life biologist in the Maldives.

According to officials, 71% of the population relies on the ocean for a living.

"The question is what will we do if we are hit by the worst possible scenario? As fishing, tourism and any income in the country is completely dependent on these coral belts. If they are destroyed, what will we do? It's a bit apocalyptic when I think about it, but the possibility is there and I think about it often, especially with the accelerating consequences of climate change," says Ms. Amir.

She will join a team of scientists who will document life at a depth of 1,000 meters under the sea. The collected data will help the government to protect at least 20% of the ocean territory.

"The locals did not create the climate and biodiversity crisis, but they are experiencing the consequences first. They serve us as a beacon in a dark tunnel. We need to understand what is happening to the planet and the Maldives, which is such a large ocean country. We can examine them for the possible consequences, as well as for the solutions we will have", says Oliver Steeds, head of the study mission "Nekton".

Climate change is only expected to get worse. A new study published recently in the journal "Earth & Environment Communications" finds that the "dangerous heat" that the coming decades will bring will probably hit most of the world with at least three times the frequency of big./VOA


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