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Vulnerability of Small Island States to Sea Level Rise and Climate Change

This article explores the vulnerability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to sea level rise and climate change. It discusses the challenges faced by SIDS, including their high susceptibility to natural disasters and the impacts of sea level rise. The article also highlights the importance of understanding and mitigating these vulnerabilities to protect island communities and their environments.

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Vulnerability of Small Island States to Sea Level Rise and Climate Change

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  1. Lambeth January 2018 Small Island States and their vulnerability to sea level rise and climate change Ivan Haigh Associate Professor in coastal Oceanography Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton I.D.Haigh@soton.ac.uk Source: World Vision

  2. 1. Introduction Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change (IPCC) • Islands in Pacific, Indian and Caribbean Oceans - high physical, social and economic vulnerability to sea-level rise, natural hazards and other climate change impacts; • Many islands - classified Small Island Developing States (SIDS); • Although SIDS vary in characteristics - share similar challenges: • small but growing populations (reducing due to migration); • remoteness; • heavy dependence on trade; • high energy-costs; and • disproportionally expensive infrastructure and administration. • SIDS have fragile physical, biological & chemical environments - susceptible to natural disasters (extreme sea levels and cyclones). Nicholls and Cazenave (2010). doi: 10.1126/science.1185782

  3. 1. Introduction Storminess (e.g. hurricanes) Air temperature wind Rainfall Coral Mangroves Sea temperatures waves surges Mean sea level https://www.kanuhura.com/en/newsroom/geological-facts-maldives

  4. 2. Sea Level Rise • High confidence from paleo sea level data & few long tide gauge records that there was an increase in the rate of MSLR during the late 19th and early 20th centuries; San Francisco Brest Swinoujscie San Francisco Brest Swinoujscie

  5. 2. Sea Level Rise • Virtually certain from tide gauge & satellite observations that global MSL has risen at a average rate of: • 1.7 mm/yr 20th century ; • 3.3 mm/yr 1993-2018; Source: http://sealevel.colorado.edu

  6. 2. Sea Level Rise The Paris Agreement committed signatories to: ‘Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change’.

  7. 2. Sea Level Rise Global Warming

  8. 2. Sea Level Rise Coral decline

  9. Guadalcanal Honiara Guadalcanal Population

  10. 3. Impacts Impacts of sea level rise (1) Increased Flooding; (2) Increased Erosion; http://econews.com.au/41514/small-island-states-face-rising-seas-seek-help/ http://www.dmc.gov.lk/images/hazard/hazard/Report.html

  11. 3. Impacts Impacts of sea level rise (3) Land loss; (4) Saltwater Intrusion;

  12. 3. Impacts ‘Lost Island of the Pacific’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeU8vmUffv4#action=share

  13. 4. Conclusion • Sea level rise is one of the most certain consequences of climate change; • The rate of sea level rise is increasing; • Sea level will continue to rise for many hundreds to thousands of years; • Small Island developing states (which have some of the lowest carbon emissions) are already being impacted by sea level rise and other climate change impacts; and • Communities are being impacted and some people have migrated from low-lying islands.

  14. 4. Research Marie Schlenker – m.schlenker@soton.ac.uk PhD project: The impact of sea-level rise and climate change on small island states Case study site: Solomon Islands: • 50 % of population lives below 30 m elevation • ‘Anecdotal evidence’ of climate change impacts in the coastal environment (coastal erosion, flooding, saltwater intrusion) Aims and objectives: • quantify shoreline changes on a national scale • identify drivers of shoreline changes and conditions which have led to major inundation and coastal erosion events in the past • investigate how island communities are being impacted and might respond to climate change in the future

  15. Development a Small Islands Typology for improved understanding of individual island Risks from multiple hazards.Using sediment archives (lakes & swamps) to extend the record of rainfall, droughts and cyclones to better understand how humans have changed ecosystem resilience to changing climate. 4. Research Climate, hazards & Small Islands David Sear Professor in Physical Geography Vanuatu changing Risk states

  16. Lambeth January 2018 Small Island States and their vulnerability to sea level rise and climate change Ivan Haigh Associate Professor in coastal Oceanography Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton I.D.Haigh@soton.ac.uk Source: World Vision

  17. 2. Sea Level Rise What causes changes in mean sea level? NOAA (2018)

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