How are climate change and sea-level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples. (150 words) upsc mains 2025 gs1 model answers

How are climate change and sea-level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples. (150 words)

Island nations, especially Small Island Developing States (SIDS), are among the most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. Rising global temperatures are causing polar ice melt and thermal expansion of oceans, leading to sea-level rise that directly threatens their survival.

Impacts on Island Nations

1. Submergence of Land:
• Many islands are low-lying coral atolls just a few meters above sea level.
• E.g., Maldives (80% of land <1 m above sea level) faces existential risk of complete submersion.
2. Coastal Erosion and Habitat Loss:
• Rising seas erode coastlines, destroying settlements and infrastructure.
• In Kiribati, villages have already been relocated inland due to shoreline loss.
3. Freshwater Salinization:
• Saltwater intrusion contaminates limited freshwater aquifers.
• In Tuvalu, groundwater has become unfit for drinking and agriculture.
4. Food and Livelihood Insecurity:
• Coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and habitat loss reduce fisheries.
• Agricultural lands shrink, worsening dependence on imports.
5. Displacement and Climate Refugees:
• Some nations may become uninhabitable within decades, creating “stateless” populations.
• Carteret Islands (Papua New Guinea) saw the world’s first climate refugees in 2005.
6. Cultural and Sovereignty Challenges:
• Rising seas threaten not just territory but also identity, culture, and sovereignty of island nations.

 

 

Conclusion:
For many island states, climate change is an existential crisis rather than a distant threat. International cooperation, climate finance, and sustainable adaptation measures are critical to secure their future and uphold the principle of climate justice.

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