The Anatomy of A Silent Crisis The Anatomy of A Silent Crisis

Case Study
The human impact of climate change – Already serious today 51
Small island developing states —
Powerless against rising seas
Small islands, whether located in the tropics or higher latitudes, have characteristics that make
them especially vulnerable to sea-level rise. In the Caribbean and on Pacific islands, more than
half the population lives within 1.5 km of the shore. In most cases, these small islands have few
viable answers to the threat facing them and the cost of options that are available are prohibitively
expensive for nations with only modest GDPs. Where adaptation isn’t feasible, migration is the main
alternative. 158
The small islands of Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Maldives are particularly vulnerable to gradual sea
level rise and storm surges. 158 Tuvalu, in the South Pacific Ocean, is the lowest-elevated state, with
a peak elevation of less than 4.5 meters above sea level. Frequent saltwater flooding, accelerated
coastal erosion and increasing difficulty growing vegetables and plants are day-to-day challenges.
The people of Tuvalu have reluctantly accepted the idea of relocation, and have started moving to
New Zealand, under the terms of a negotiated migration scheme. 159
Forced displacement is the ultimate human consequence of sea level rise. Before reaching that
stage, sea-level rise will likely exacerbate inundation, erosion and other coastal problems, threaten
vital infrastructure, settlements and facilities, and thus compromise the socio-economic well-being of
island communities and states. 158
Key Sources: IPCC and EACH-FOR