Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, discusses the impact of climate change on small island nations. The podcast explores rising sea levels, financial difficulties, and land loss. It also highlights the importance of mangroves in coastal protection and adaptation measures in the Maldives. The emotional attachment to ancestral homes and the existential risks faced by small islanders are also discussed.
Small island nations are experiencing faster rates of sea level rise and more frequent coastal flooding, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities.
Small island nations are implementing both nature-based and artificial adaptation measures to protect coastlines, but choices made now in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation methods will significantly impact their future.
Deep dives
Sea levels are rising due to climate change
Sea levels are rising due to a combination of factors related to climate change. As the Earth gets hotter, water expands when it warms up, leading to higher sea levels. Additionally, the melting of ice at the poles adds more water to the ocean, further increasing sea levels. NASA's readings show that sea levels have been rising at a faster pace in the past 30 years, with significant consequences. This rise in sea levels is particularly affecting small island nations, where vulnerable communities are experiencing faster rates of sea level rise and more frequent coastal flooding. The impacts of rising sea levels are uneven, disproportionately affecting areas that are already vulnerable.
Adaptation measures for rising sea levels
Small island nations are exploring various adaptation measures to address the challenges posed by rising sea levels. Nature-based solutions such as mangroves, coral reefs, and sea grasses are being used to protect coastlines from coastal flooding. These ecosystems act as natural sea defenses, reducing wave action and the amount of water that can push inland. However, not all areas are suitable for these nature-based solutions, and in such cases, artificial measures like seawalls and levees are being implemented. These physical adaptations aim to block water from encroaching on land, but they come with high costs and maintenance requirements. The choices made now in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation measures will have significant impacts on the future of small island nations.
The environmental, cultural, and social impacts of rising sea levels
Rising sea levels are not only causing environmental disruptions but also endangering the cultural and social heritage of small island nations. Land loss due to sea level rise threatens ancestral burial sites and erases cherished childhood memories. Coastal infrastructure, such as hospitals, airports, and major roadways, is increasingly vulnerable to flooding, leading to substantial economic damages. Groundwater contamination by saltwater intrusion reduces the availability of fresh water for drinking and agriculture. In some cases, permanent migration becomes the last resort for communities facing the loss of their homes. However, many islanders strongly desire to stay and fight for their ancestral lands, finding hope and determination to adapt and protect their islands for generations to come.
The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, has been raising awareness of the impact that climate change is having on small island nations like hers, from the Caribbean to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
In addition to facing more extreme weather and temperatures, these islands also have to contend with the threat posed by rising sea levels – which, for some islands, is existential.
In this episode, Qasa Alom speaks to reporters in Fiji and the Maldives about what small island nations can do to survive.
Guests:
Dr Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, Director of the Ocean Physics program at NASA
Dr Rosanne Martyr-Koller, Coastal Hazards and Adaptation Scientist at Climate Analytics
Shahudha Mohamed, on-the-ground reporter in the Maldives
Tim Vula, on-the-ground reporter in Fiji
Producer: Ben Cooper
Researcher: Octavia Woodward
Series producer: Simon Watts
Editor: China Collins
Sound engineers: Hal Haines and Rod Farquhar
Production coordinators: Debbie Richford and Sophie Hill
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