How are you, Maldives?

As more of these islands are threatened by sea-level rise, its people are left with three critical choices—move to higher ground, build up, or reclaim the land.

Construction of a levee in Malé with sandbags for protection against erosion

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Rising sea levels and severe cyclones threaten the future of the Maldives island communities. Urgent attention is needed to address its climate change impacts through national and regional cooperation.

A low-lying series of islands in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is one of the world’s lowest and flattest countries, as over 80% of the total land area is less than 1 meter above mean sea level. It experiences a tropical monsoon climate with heavy rainfall and is prone to various climate risks increasing temperatures and sea-level rise.

Total economic loss due to climate change is estimated to average 2.3% of GDP in 2050, and 12.6% of GDP by 2100.

What do the experts say?

According to the INFORM risk index, the Maldives ranks 140 out of 191 countries based on exposure, hazard, vulnerability, and lack of coping capacity. While it is in a low-risk class to disasters, it is more susceptible to climate change risks.

Cyclone damage in the northern part of the country resulted in 18 islands becoming uninhabitable. The 80% of the country below 1 meter in sea level could also become uninhabitable by the 2050s, thereby threatening a surge of climate migrants into already-dense urban areas like the capital, higher demand for reclaimed lands, or migration to neighboring countries.

Although the total carbon emission of the Maldives is low, its per capita emissions are the highest in the region (largely due to its small population and increasing levels of economic activity). Mostly, huge carbon emissions result from the tourism, transportation, and energy sectors.

Maldives is committed to fulfilling its NDC objectives of climate adaptation with the identification of ten priority areas. The country has also formulated the National Adaptation Programme of Action 2006 to enhance climate resilience.

The Government is also developing and populating an artificial island near the capital designed with many green urban planning initiatives. The new island is called Hulhumalé.

Is this information sufficient?

Yes

No

What do you need to know about The Maldives?

Bypass all the climate clutter and avoid tedious, lengthy web searches by taking note of the following short and important climate change figures for The Maldives: