Syllabus
GS Paper 3 – Environmental conservation; Environmental pollution and degradation; Environmental Impact Assessment
Context
The relocation of around 300 families from Gardi Sugdub in Panama’s Guna Yala province marks a significant response to the threats posed by rising sea levels.
Source
The Hindu| Editorial dated 29th June 2024
Climate change forces Panama islanders to relocate: What happened — and how sea level rise is affecting the world
With global sea levels rising at an accelerating rate, many island nations face existential threats, necessitating urgent adaptation and mitigation measures.
Factors Driving Sea Level Rise
- Thermal Expansion: Warming seawater expands and increases volume.
- Melting Ice: Melting glaciers and ice sheets, especially from Greenland and Antarctica.
- Ocean Currents and Circulation Patterns: Changes influenced by warming temperatures and altered weather patterns.
Impact of Sea Level Rise
- Impact on Island Nations:
- Loss of Land : Many Pacific islands, including nations like Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Fiji, are experiencing significant land loss due to rising sea levels.
- Increased Displacement: Island nations like Indonesia face heightened risks. Due to flooding concerns, Indonesia has announced plans to move its capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan on Borneo.
- Economic Vulnerability: Small island nations often rely heavily on fisheries, tourism, and agriculture, all of which are threatened by rising sea levels.
- Infrastructure Damage: Flooding and erosion damage roads, buildings, and other critical infrastructure, leading to increased maintenance costs and economic strain.
- Flooding of Coastal Areas:
- Threat to Coastal Cities: Sea level rise threatens low-lying coastal regions worldwide.
- Projections for Indian Cities: Critical properties and road networks in cities such as Mumbai, Kochi, Mangalore, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram could be submerged by 2050, according to MSI, a global risk management firm.
- Intensification of Storm Surges:
- Exacerbated Storm Surges: Rising sea levels intensify storm surges, leading to more severe flooding and damage during hurricanes and storms.
- Increased Risk: Higher sea levels allow more water to penetrate inland during storm surges, posing a greater risk to coastal communities.
- Saltwater Intrusion:
- Contamination of Freshwater Aquifers: Rising sea levels cause saltwater to intrude into freshwater aquifers, compromising their quality.
- Challenges for Communities: Freshwater aquifers are vital for agriculture and drinking water, and saltwater contamination presents significant challenges to dependent communities.
- Impact on Marine Ecosystems
- Coral Reefs: Rising sea temperatures and acidification, coupled with higher sea levels, threaten coral reefs, which are vital to marine biodiversity and local economies.
- Fisheries: The degradation of coral reefs impacts fisheries, a crucial source of food and income for many island communities, leading to economic instability.
Adaptation Strategies
- Global Assistance
- Aid and Funding: Small Island nations often rely on international aid and funding to build resilience against sea level rise. This includes infrastructure projects, disaster preparedness, and relocation programs.
- Climate Change Advocacy: Many island nations are vocal advocates for global climate action, pushing for stronger international agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming.
- Local Adaptation Strategies
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Building seawalls, improving drainage systems, and constructing elevated buildings are some measures taken to combat flooding and erosion.
- Relocation Plans: Some nations are developing plans to relocate entire communities or even countries, as seen with Kiribati’s purchase of land in Fiji for potential future relocation.
Conclusion
The relocation of families from Gardi Sugdub is a poignant example of the human cost of climate change. As global sea levels continue to rise, many small island communities face existential threats to their homes, cultures, and livelihoods. Addressing these challenges requires urgent and sustained global efforts in adaptation, mitigation, and support for vulnerable populations.
Related PYQ
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region. [ UPSC Civil Services Exam – Mains 2023]
Practice Question
Discuss the implications of rising sea levels on small island developing states? [150 words]