When you live on a series of white sandy islands threatened by the rising seas of climate change, preparedness becomes more than a best practice. That’s why the Maldivian government is saving up for the ultimate flood plain relocation program—the eventual replacement of their homeland.
"We do not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for decades," newly-elected president Mohamed Nasheed told The Guardian on November 10. “It's an insurance policy for the worst possible outcome.”
If sea level rise forces the Maldivians to abandon their atolls, many of which are less than five feet above water, they could seek higher ground in India or Sri Lanka, because of their similar cultures and climates, Nasheed told The Guardian. With the International Panel on Climate Change has predicting about 10 to 22 inches by 2100, investing a portion of the country’s $1 billion tourism budget might be a wise bet.
In the meantime, however, the Maldives is looking for more immediate monetary help to shore up the country’s fledgling democracy and improve social conditions, the Guardian reported. Read the complete story online.
Jolie Breeden is the lead editor and science communicator for Natural Hazards Center publications. She writes and edits for Research Counts; the Quick Response, Mitigation Matters, Public Health, and Weather Ready Research Award report series; as well as for special projects and publications. Breeden graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.