#Climate
Article·9 min read

Sinking islands, rising costs: The Maldives’ race against climate change

The Maldives are the lowest lying islands on Earth, and they’re sinking — by 2050, 80% of the island nation could become uninhabitable. The deterioration of coral reefs poses a threat to the country’s biodiversity, economy, and existence.

Sep 18, 2023
The capital city Malé has an elevation of only 2.3 meters above sea level at its highest point. More than 80% of the Maldives lie less than 1 meter above sea level. · Ishan Hassan, Ocean Image Bank
Since 1988, sea walls have been constructed to protect shorelines against erosion and sea level rise across the Maldives. The capital Malé is completely bordered by a sea wall.
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Living coral is strong, unlike dead coral which are brittle and can easily break off during rough weather. When there is severe coral mortality, the subsequent reef degradation can lead to the height of the reef being reduced by as much as a meter, which is effectively the removal of a breakwater.
Aya Naseem
Co-Founder and Chief Research and Outreach Officer of the Maldives Coral Institute
Coral bleaching is caused by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification, threatening reef ecosystems, including those in the Maldives, which are the seventh largest in the word. · The Ocean Agency, Ocean Image Bank
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The [fishing] industry is facing major declines in baitfish, which depend on coral reefs for habitat. Coral reefs are also nursery grounds for many pelagic and reef fish species that are commercially significant [...] A number of popular dive sites are now degraded, decreasing their economic and aesthetic value.
Aya Naseem
Co-Founder and Chief Research and Outreach Officer of the Maldives Coral Institute
Fisheries account for 11% of total employment and 98% of exports in the Maldives.
The "City of Hope," Hulhumalé, is an artificial island built from seabed sand that serves as an extension of the capital, Malé, and is 3 feet higher than any natural island in the Maldives.
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The majority of coral restoration projects in Maldives in the past three decades are centered around resort islands, which are largely disconnected from local communities. In the past few years, however, there have been increasing efforts from [...] island communities to restore their reefs. Adequate funding and technical support are barriers that are commonly faced to implement and scale up such projects.
Aya Naseem
Co-Founder and Chief Research and Outreach Officer of the Maldives Coral Institute

Read more Deep dives

The Caribbean’s coral crisis: Ocean acidification threatens coastal livelihoods

The Caribbean is a paradise in peril — more than 50% of the Caribbean’s coral reefs could be lost by 2050. Urgent action is needed from the global community to preserve these vital ecosystems and protect the region’s economy.

Article·6 min read
Tidal threats: Displacement and resiliency in Papua New Guinea

Rising sea levels and exceptionally high tides are displacing communities across Papua New Guinea, disproportionately affecting women. Tulele Peisa, a women-led relocation organization, is setting an example for climate migration efforts around the world.

Article·8 min read
Seaweed siege: Unravelling sargassum's effect on coastal livelihoods in the Dominican Republic

Fueled by a warming ocean, the aggressive proliferation of sargassum seaweed has turned an important ecological haven in the open seas into a destructive force inundating the coastline of the Dominican Republic. Now swaths of the Dominican Republic’s shores are covered by masses of rotting algae, disrupting local communities and industries that depend on a healthy ocean. But people are working to turn this crisis into an opportunity.

Article·10 min read
Vanishing shores: Climate change, cultural heritage, and the resilience of the Marshall Islands community

In the Marshall Islands, a concerted community effort is fighting hard to protect not only their home, but also their identity, their landmarks, their history, and their future.

Article·10 min read