Islands in Danger

Global warming is to blame for the continuously rising sea level. Numerous Islands are destined to sink into the ocean in the upcoming centuries. The water in the South Pacific Ocean rises by 15 mm during some years. In Europe it is maximally 2 mm. The ocean slowly devours the home of many people. Although a number of industrial nations have committed to ambitious climate control goals, the global warming continues and with it, the global climate changes and the sea levels are on the rise.

WNO’s goal is to draw attention to the consequences of climate changes and the rising sea levels. The changing climate currently already endangers the life of many people residing in the Pacific Islands. However, whether it is Barbados and Santa Lucia in in the Caribbean or Samoa and Tonga in the South Sea: The changing climate is not a far off future topic for most Island states and their natives.

The plans of the Island state Kiribati indicate that the governments are preparing for these events. Plans to evacuate the entire populations are already in place.

The Pacific states occupy a significant place regarding the dangerous climate change. However, the industrial countries have significantly contributed to this situation. Most industrial nations are not currently in a position to keep their promises and significantly reduce CO2-emissions. In the meantime, many of the atolls are losing large amounts of land and are endangered by the climate changes.