Are we having any Islands Sinking due to Climate Change?

Are we having any Islands Sinking due to Climate Change?

Are we having any Islands Sinking due to Climate Change? Some agree while others disagree. In fact, those who disagree. argue that the said sinking islands are gaining size. Hence becoming bigger. There’s also a conflict on whether it’s human-induced or natural climate change, responsible for the sinking islands.

What is an island?

It refers to a piece of land surrounded by a water body.

We have various types of islands. Including:

• Continental islands – created when a continent is rifted. Examples are Madagascar and New Zealand.
• Oceanic islands – created by volcanic or tectonic processes. Examples are the Mariana Islands and the Austral Islands.
• Tropical islands – are created by the formation of coral reefs. Examples are Tonga and Nauru.
• Artificial islands – these are man-made. For example, in Osaka Bay off the Japanese island of Honshu.

Islands are very important to our ecosystem

They are best known for their rich biodiversity and most species are
endemic to them.

So which islands are sinking?

I was listening to TED talks and really sympathized with the president of Kiribati. It’s one of the sinking islands. He was trying to plead for a serious listening ear and action to curb global warming before his country finally disappears into the ocean.

He has been talking to many and giving them ideas he sees could save his nation. But it seems, it has been falling into dead ears.

Other islands that may be sinking if nothing is done include:

• The Maldives
• Vanuatu

• Tuvalu

• Solomon Islands
• Samoa
• Nauru
• Fiji Islands
• Marshall Islands

• Not forgetting our Mombasa in Kenya.

Lohachara Island already disappeared.

What is causing these islands to sink?

They are mainly sinking due to the rising sea levels caused by both global warming that is warming our oceans and the melting of the glaciers.

Global warming affecting these sea levels is human-induced by human activities emitting heat. That is warming the oceans.

The sea levels have been rising for a while. Hence resulting in storm surges, and frequent flooding.

Conclusion

Seventy-one per cent of our planet is made up of water. So this means that once the islands are done sinking, then the rest of the parts will follow.

It’s not a matter of helping the sinking islands, but helping ourselves. After all, they are in these situations as a result of collective Human activities around the world.

Climate change effects don’t necessarily fall on those who engage in activities contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases.

So instead of the superpower countries debating and refusing to understand why they should slow down their developments while the other ones are still enjoying business as usual. It’s time they really gave climate change a serious thought.

Developing countries are already feeling the pain of climate change, yet they are still very underdeveloped. Most of them struggle to survive and not much thought given to developments.