Flooding in the Maldives
Flooding in the Maldives The Maldives are a collection of nearly 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean; The country is located about 435 miles south-west of Sri Lanka. They are very low-lying. In 2007, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that a rise in sea levels of seven to 24 inches by 2100 would be enough to make the Maldives virtually uninhabitable. So the Maldives are very vulnerable to climate change.
Climate change and rising sea levels are of great concern to the Maldives, which is only 8 feet above sea level at its highest point. As global warming causes the polar ice caps melt and sea levels to rise, the Maldives' entire existence is in jeopardy.
On the island of Maduvvaree in the Maldives the houses are right next to the sea, far too close to the beach, and some of them have already collapsed into the water due to the rise in sea levels. A rise in sea levels has a great effect on the houses; threaten the country's tourism-dependent economy and the very existence of the country, but also the island, as scientists predict that this island will disappear in less than 20 years.
In the near future, climate change will affect the the Maldives' economy. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the Maldives' beautiful resorts and beaches. Tourism accounts for 28 percent of the country's GDP and for more than 60 percent of the Maldives' foreign exchange. The vast majority of government revenue (approximately 90 percent) comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Along with rising sea levels, increased beach erosion, more powerful storms, higher storm surges, and threats to biodiversity are among the major threatens to the Maldives due to climate change over the coming decades.
They are some of the most beautiful islands in the world, but the Maldives are facing a very uncertain future. Many scientists say that a rise in sea level caused by climate change, is threatening their very existence. 80% of the land is
Climate change and rising sea levels are of great concern to the Maldives, which is only 8 feet above sea level at its highest point. As global warming causes the polar ice caps melt and sea levels to rise, the Maldives' entire existence is in jeopardy.
On the island of Maduvvaree in the Maldives the houses are right next to the sea, far too close to the beach, and some of them have already collapsed into the water due to the rise in sea levels. A rise in sea levels has a great effect on the houses; threaten the country's tourism-dependent economy and the very existence of the country, but also the island, as scientists predict that this island will disappear in less than 20 years.
In the near future, climate change will affect the the Maldives' economy. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the Maldives' beautiful resorts and beaches. Tourism accounts for 28 percent of the country's GDP and for more than 60 percent of the Maldives' foreign exchange. The vast majority of government revenue (approximately 90 percent) comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Along with rising sea levels, increased beach erosion, more powerful storms, higher storm surges, and threats to biodiversity are among the major threatens to the Maldives due to climate change over the coming decades.
They are some of the most beautiful islands in the world, but the Maldives are facing a very uncertain future. Many scientists say that a rise in sea level caused by climate change, is threatening their very existence. 80% of the land is