ENTRE News – Climate change is a real threat to the world. For certain countries, climate change can even pose extraordinary dangers. For example, ‘eliminating’ the existence of the country. Generally, the countries that are in danger of disappearing are island countries that are not very large in size. These countries are part of the so-called Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
By their nature, SIDS will be the first countries affected by climate change and are in danger of extinction. According to the United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs, there are 52 SIDS worldwide.
Most have subsistence economies based on tourism, have difficulty developing communications and infrastructure, lack protection against natural disasters, and are dependent on international trade. The following are nine islands that are at risk of disappearing due to global warming, as quoted by Sustainability:
1. Kiribati
The Republic of Kiribati is an island country located in the Pacific Ocean. Kiribati was discovered by Spain in the 16th century, and finally gained independence from England in 1979. This country has 33 atolls or bracelet-shaped coral islands that make up Kiribati. This country is also close to the equator.
Kiribati’s main threat is sea level rise. With the island’s height being only three meters, the water level is rising at a rate of 1.2 centimeters per year. This increase is four times faster than the global average.
Because of this condition, Kiribati is the country most likely to disappear due to rising sea levels in the next few years. According to data from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Kiribati has a total population of 135,799 as of July 2023.
2. Maldives
The Republic of Maldives is an island country in South Asia, Indian Ocean. This country is a former Portuguese, Dutch and British colony, which gained independence in 1965.
Rising sea levels are currently the main threat to this country, which is among the lowest in the world. The maximum height of the Maldives is 2.3 meters, while the lowest average height in the world is only 1.5 meters. The Maldives consists of 1,192 islands and has a population of 517,801 people.
3. Vanuatu
The Republic of Vanuatu was founded by Spain in 1606. This country gained independence from England and France in 1980. According to the UN, Vanuatu is the country most vulnerable to natural disasters.
Apart from being at risk of rising sea levels, Vanuatu is also threatened because it has a high rate of cyclone formation. Vanuatu was hit by Cyclone Pam, which damaged 90 percent of buildings in the capital Port Vila. Vanuatu consists of 83 small islands and has a population of 342,543.
4. Tuvalu
Tuvalu is an island country in the Pacific Ocean that was discovered by Spain around 1568. Tuvalu gained independence from England in 1978. Tuvalu is a country that is a ‘victim’ of climate change injustice. This country is the one that causes the least pollution, but is most affected by global warming.
Tuvalu has a low average height above sea level, namely 5 meters. Moreover, Tuvalu also experienced Cyclone Pam because it is close to Vanuatu. The population of Tuvalu as of July 2023 is 11,480 people.
5. Solomon Island
The Solomon Islands were discovered by Spain in 1568. This country in the Pacific Ocean gained its independence from England in 1978. The Solomon Islands consist of 21 large islands and more than 900 small islands in Melanesia, part of Oceania, northeast of Australia.
According to the Environmental Research Letter report, there are five coral islands in the Solomon Islands that have disappeared under sea water. Six other islands also experienced coastline increases in 2016. The population of the Solomon Islands is currently 756,850.
6. Samoa
Samoa became independent from New Zealand in 1962. This island nation, which covers an area of less than 3,000 square kilometers, is threatened with losing its coral reefs due to global warming. Coral reefs are natural walls of protection from powerful waves. Samoa consists of two main islands and seven small islands. The population of Samoa as of July 2023 is 43,534 people.
7. Nauru
The Republic of Nauru is a territory of more than 20 square kilometers discovered by the British Empire. After passing through the hands of Germany, the Netherlands and Australia, this Central Pacific country finally gained independence in 1968.
Nauru’s main threat is rising sea levels. This is because the average height of this country is low, namely 65 meters. Meanwhile, sea level rise around Nauru is 2-3 times faster than the global average. If the polar ice continues to melt, the survival of the region’s small Nauruan population will be seriously threatened in the years to come. Nauru’s population as of July 2023 reached 12,886 people.
8. Fiji
The island nation of Fiji stretches across 1.3 million square kilometers. Fiji was colonized by Southeast Asian peoples before Europeans arrived in the 17th century. Fiji falls under British sovereignty. But in 1970, the country declared independence. Apart from the problem of rising sea levels, Fiji is also threatened by bad weather.
In 2009, it rained for several days in a row which resulted in 19 people dying and 9,000 people being displaced. The country’s sugar cane plantations and tourism infrastructure were also badly damaged by the rain. Fiji consists of more than 300 islands and atolls. The population in Fiji is currently 943,213 people.
9. Marshall
The Republic of the Marshall Islands is named after Captain John Marshall, who discovered it in 1788. The island nation covers an area of 181 square kilometers and gained independence from the United States in 1990.
In this Pacific Ocean country, the loss of islands due to rising sea levels is not a threat. This is a fact because it has happened in several atolls. For example, in the capital city of Majuro. Most of the land that is usually visible has now been swallowed by the sea. Marshall consists of five islands and 29 atolls. The total population in Marshall is 42,422 people.