Q.4 How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples. (UPSC CSE 2025, GS PAPER-1) (Answer in 150 words,10 marks)

THE INTRODUCTION:

Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates.

Sea level rise is an increase in the level of the world’s oceans because of global warming.

THE BODY:

Climate change and sea level rise pose an existential threat to many small island nations, severely impacting their land, economy, and culture.

• • According to NOAA, 2024 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850 by a wide margin. It was 2.62 °F (1.35 °C) above the pre-industrial average of 56.7 °F (1850-1900).
  • In the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report on the Physical Basis of Climate Change, The likely range of total human-caused global surface temperature increase from 1850–1900 to 2010–2019 is 0.8°C to 1.3°C, with a best estimate of 1.07°C.

Following are the impacts:

• • Loss of territory: Rising sea levels are causing the physical disappearance of islands like Tebua Tarawa (Kiribati) and Nuatambu (Solomon Islands), forcing communities to abandon ancestral lands.
  • Freshwater contamination: Saltwater intrusion contaminates freshwater sources, threatening drinking water and agriculture, as seen in Kiribati and the Marshall Islands.
  • Economic strain: Damage to tourism infrastructure, agriculture, and fisheries severely reduces GDP and livelihoods, especially in the Maldives, Fiji, and Caribbean nations.

Over the past decade, direct damages of climate change are estimated to add up to around US$ 1.3 trillion (or around 0.2% of world GDP on average, per year).

• • Forced migration: Unsustainable living conditions push populations to relocate, with countries like Tuvalu and Marshall Islands planning international migration strategies.

According to The Global Migration Data Portal, of the International Organization for Migration (IOM): Climate-related hazards like floods, storms and wildfires are already a major driver of global human mobility, playing a role in 26.4 million displacements in 2023.

• • Ecosystem collapse: Coral bleaching and coastal erosion destroy vital habitats and natural barriers, further accelerating vulnerability.

Fig: A(present time) and B(mid-21^st century)

THE CONCLUSION:

The survival of island nations depends on urgent global climate action, robust adaptation strategies, and international support. Without intervention, cultural identities, ecosystems, and entire populations remain at risk of extinction.