Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water


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Climate Change's Impact on the Maldives

The Maldives are comprised of nearly 1,200 islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean. The combined land mass of all the islands is 115 square miles. Climate change and rising sea levels are of great concern to the Maldives, which is only 8 feet above sea level at its highest point. As global warming causes the polar ice caps melt and sea levels to rise, the Maldives' entire existence is in a critical state.

In the near future, climate change will affect the the Maldives' economy. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the Maldives' beautiful resorts and beaches. Tourism accounts for 28 percent of the country's GDP and for more than 60 percent of the Maldives' foreign exchange. The vast majority of government revenue (approximately 90 percent) comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes.

In 1987, unusually high tides swept over the country and inundated the capital city, Male'. The Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004 killed Maldivians, displaced an additional 12,000 and caused extensive damage to the country's important tourism industry, several islands across the Maldives have been hit by tidal waves during this month itself.

 




The sea also plays an important role in the Maldives' economy. Fishing and fish processing is the second largest industry. Due to the low-lying nature of the Maldives, farming is not possible. Maldivians rely on the fishing industry to supply most of their food; imports account for the remainder. Pollution and over fishing are major concerns to the fishing industry. Additionally, the country has engaged in sand dredging and coral mining (for building materials and jewelry) until recently. These activities have been extremely destructive to the sea surrounding the Maldives and have been curtailed in recent years.

In the long run, climate change will threaten the entire country's existence. The highest point in the Maldives is only 8 feet above sea level. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that average global sea levels will rise by between 0.09m and 0.37m (3.5 to 14.6 inches). Along with rising sea levels, increased beach erosion, more powerful storms, higher storm surges, and threats to biodiversity are among the major threatens to the Maldives due to climate change over the coming decades.

Additionally, the IPCC estimates that global warming will result in warmer winters in the northern regions of Europe and North America. Milder winters in those areas could also lead to a decline in tourism in the Maldives as residents of Europe and North America no longer travel to the Maldives to escape the harsh winters.
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