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<\/a><\/p>\nThe Maldives is currently facing such a situation. The archipelago nation consisting of nearly 1200 islands is surrounded by rising seas and temperatures that threaten the source of nearly 70% of the country\u2019s GDP \u2013 Tourism [1]. As the waters continue to creep towards shore, risking to swallow the nation completely, the nation\u2019s Ministry of Tourism looks to three primary threats to its economic livelihood:<\/p>\n
1) Everything Is Not Beachy<\/strong><\/p>\n With vast coastlines surrounded by the blue of the Indian Ocean, The Maldives is renowned for its beautiful beaches. Nearly 75% of tourism is driven by Beach Holidays [2], and almost all tourist accommodations are within 100 m of the coastline [7]. This draw for tourists is at risk though from rising sea levels and beach erosion. Over 97% of the inhabited islands reported beach erosion [2], and nearly half of the tourist resorts also reported erosion damage caused by increasingly higher water levels [5].<\/p>\n 2) Nothing is Better, Down Where It\u2019s Deader, Under the Sea<\/strong><\/p>\n Below the water\u2019s surface, The Maldives also attracts tourists with its rich biodiversity. With the seventh largest coral reef system globally [5], tourists flock to The Maldives for excellent snorkeling and diving. However, climate change is endangering this fragile natural resource. The living coral reefs are highly susceptible to the rising water temperatures, and the impact of climate change has been a phenomena called Coral Bleaching that destroys the once rich underwater environment [3]. Since coral reefs are the foundation of the aquatic ecosystem, all of The Maldives\u2019 biodiversity is threatened as the reefs slowly fall apart.<\/p>\n 3) Now Servicing Non-Stop Flights to Atlantis<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition to the natural resources at risk from climate change, the man-made infrastructure supporting the tourism industry also faces challenges from rising sea levels. With approximately 90% of resort infrastructure within 100 m of a coastline only 1.5 m above sea level [7][5], any increases in sea level threaten to significantly impair the nation overall. Furthermore, the tourism industry\u2019s most utilized point of entry, Male\u2019 International Airport, is particularly at risk with over 30% of its infrastructure within 50 m of the coast and only 1.1 m above sea level [2][7]. As the water continues to rise, the primary source of nearly all tourism could be completely cut off with any damages to Male\u2019 International Airport\u2019s infrastructure.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Tourism Adaptation Project<\/strong><\/p>\n To ensure tourism and economic operations can continue in spite of climate changes, The Maldives Ministry of Tourism launched the Tourism Adaptation Project. This joint venture between public and private sectors seeks to mitigate the impacts of rising sea levels and temperatures through a myriad of operational enhancements and alterations.<\/p>\n Certain mitigation techniques are very short-term focused. One solution to the concerns around coastline erosion are to utilize beach nourishment techniques [11]. Popular among beachfront resorts, sediment and sand would be moved from different areas of the archipelago and pumped into eroded beaches, repairing eroded areas for a quick, albeit temporary fix. [4]<\/p>\n A more lasting solution involves the usage of organic solutions. On the erosion side, one such strategy is to plant vegetation such as mangroves around the coastline [7]. Studies have shown that the plants not only weaken waves caused by rising sea levels and weather, thereby decreasing erosion, but are also useful in improving biodiversity as well [8]. Utilizing organic solutions is also effective in addressing the risks to coral reefs. By planting either actual or artificial coral reefs, the aquatic ecosystem can be stabilized thus driving sustainability to biodiversity, and subsequently the snorkeling and diving industries. [6][10]<\/p>\n Finally, additional infrastructure can leave long-lasting safeguards to climate change. A common measure is to build seawalls to prevent damage to coastline and existing infrastructure [6]. Furthermore, Male\u2019 International Airport is undergoing additional runway development and coastal protections to help minimize the risks generated from rising sea levels. [9]<\/p>\n Is It Enough?<\/strong><\/p>\n While the Ministry\u2019s Adaptation Project provides many defenses from the impacts of climate change, they are mostly short-term responses rather than actual lasting solutions. Safeguards can be introduced and emissions cut within the country, but the global problem of climate change will still threaten the nation. In order to ensure sustainability of tourism and The Maldives itself, the country has pushed for multilateral policy changes urging other nations to adopt climate change mitigation agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement [12]. Only by looking for a global solution to this shared problem can the natural beauty of The Maldives be preserved for generations of tourists to come.<\/p>\n [796 words]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n References:<\/p>\n [1] Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, \u201c2014 Investment Climate Statement \u2013 Maldives,\u201d http:\/\/www.state.gov\/e\/eb\/rls\/othr\/ics\/2014\/227151.htm<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [2] Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment, \u201cNational Adaptation to Climate Change,\u201d http:\/\/www.ifrc.org\/docs\/IDRL\/National%20Adaptation%20Programme%20(Climate%20change))\/MALDIVES%20Adaptation%20to%20Climate%20Change.pdf<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [3] Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove. “Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the world’s coral reefs.” Marine and freshwater research 50, no. 8 (1999): 839-866. Accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [4] Shakeela, Aishath, and Susanne Becken. “Understanding tourism leaders\u2019 perceptions of risks from climate change: an assessment of policy-making processes in the Maldives using the social amplification of risk framework (SARF).”\u00a0Journal of Sustainable Tourism<\/em>\u00a023, no. 1 (2015): 65-84. Accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [5] Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water, \u201cNational Adaption Program of Action,\u201d http:\/\/unfccc.int\/resource\/docs\/napa\/mdv01.pdf<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [6] Heather Hosterman, Joel Smith, \u201cEconomic Cost and Benefits of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation to the Maldives Tourism Industry,\u201d 2015, Ministry of Tourism, http:\/\/www.tourism.gov.mv\/downloads\/publicaltions\/Economic.pdf<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [7] Sovacool, Benjamin K. “Perceptions of climate change risks and resilient island planning in the Maldives.” Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 17, no. 7 (2012): 731-752. Accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [8] Duarte, Carlos M., I\u00f1igo J. Losada, Iris E. Hendriks, In\u00e9s Mazarrasa, and N\u00faria Marb\u00e0. “The role of coastal plant communities for climate change mitigation and adaptation.” Nature Climate Change 3, no. 11 (2013): 961-968. Accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [9] Ministry of Environment and Energy, \u201cMaldives\u2019 Intended Nationally Determined Contribution,\u201d http:\/\/www4.unfccc.int\/ndcregistry\/PublishedDocuments\/Maldives%20First\/Maldives%20INDC.pdf<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [10] Clark, S., and A. J. Edwards. “An evaluation of artificial reef structures as tools for marine habitat rehabilitation in the Maldives.” Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 9, no. 1 (1999): 5-21. Accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [11] Sovacool, Benjamin K. “Hard and soft paths for climate change adaptation.” Climate Policy 11, no. 4 (2011): 1177-1183. Accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [12] Chris Mooney, Joby Warrick, \u201cHow tiny islands drove huge ambition at the Paris climate talks,\u201d The Washington Post, December 12, 2015, https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/energy-environment\/wp\/2015\/12\/11\/how-tiny-islands-drove-huge-ambition-at-the-paris-climate-talks\/<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n Image References:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/climate-consensus-97-per-cent\/2016\/jun\/10\/climate-scientists-have-warned-us-of-coral-bleaching-for-years-its-here<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.sciencenewsforstudents.org\/article\/current-coral-bleaching-event-longest-known<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.arkipal.org\/tag\/energy\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/maldivesfinest.com\/seaplane-accident<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/shoken\/3051775619<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>