Everyone will be affected by climate change either to small or large extent, but island communities are at major risk.

With the increase in global temperature and melting of ice sea level is rising and many islands face the issue of receding cost lines, some islands might be lost under water for forever. “The projected estimates in Sea Level Rise for 2050, compared to 1994-2014 varies from 18-24 cm and in a worst case could be 15-40 cm”, IPCC.

Increasing acidification of sea water is resulting in bleaching of coral reefs, which are home to many fish species and this puts the entire food chain of islands at risk. As per IPCC, an increase of 2°C will result in 99% per cent loss of coral reefs.

Increasing intensity of tropical cyclones is resulting in loss of many lives on islands.

While islands contributed least to climate change, they will be affected the most by it. A rapid increase in investment in clean energy sources, adaptation for extreme weather events, awareness about climate change is necessary.

References:

Image – https://www.e-ir.info/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/80991/3046225225_ec5bd8f114_c-709×400-c.jpg

https://caribbean.un.org/en/173533-small-islands-are-increasingly-affected-climate-change-ipcc-report