What Can Be Done?

It seems fitting, with the end of this semester (and thus, my series of blog posts) approaching, that I write a piece focusing on potential solutions to the threat of rising sea levels. By solutions, I do not mean temporary measures taken to alleviate suffering in the short term, like desalination machines or supplies of bottled water. I mean long-term solutions that will allow communities and nations to survive. Also, I am discounting wholesale evacuation of the most vulnerable island nations, as it should be considered an extreme last resort. Instead, I will be taking a look at some of the alternative actions suggested or implemented to overcome the negative effects of rising sea levels on low-lying islands and coastal areas. In discussing some of the pros and cons of each, I hope readers will be spurred to consider some underlying questions: Do they work? Can these solutions benefit local communities as well as nations? Before I get started, though, I want to make a very clear and simple point: the most cost-effective way to eliminate or mitigate a problem, at least in the long term, is to deal with it at the source. In this, case, it means dealing with the emission of greenhouse gasses. As this last point is more (politically) polarized in the United States, I would like to make a quick point: even if the political parties disagree about reality, there should still be room for mutually-acceptable policies addressing environmental concerns. After all, whether or not people accept climate change as reality, measures taken to reduce carbon emissions could have very tangible side benefits: reducing other forms of pollution, creating a more sustainable economy, and lowering electric bills, to name a few. That said, let me get back to the other end of the problem, and what is to be done in the face of rising sea levels. One obvious means of adaptation, which has been mentioned repeatedly in the context of rising sea levels, is internal migration and relocation within nations. However, this creates its own set of problems for many nations. Some countries, such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Maldives, have little or no higher ground to which people can retreat, and experience significant economic strain as more people move to the capitals. Also, in some cases, distinct people groups within nations are feeling the need to relocate from their native lands, such as the Carteret Islanders in Papua New Guinea (see the documentary "Sun Come Up"). So, while internal relocations may be effective for physical survival of individuals, and the political survival of nations, some groups may risk losing their cultural identity. Land purchase is a means which has been embraced by the government of Kiribati, and not just as a place for (potential) relocation. Kiribati purchased some tracts of land in Fiji to supplement it’s own scarcity of arable land, and to thus reinforce the food supply for its population. A more proactive method, which has already been used to significant effect, is the construction of seawalls (or sea dikes, or levees). These would be walls or earthen mounds built to hold back water from land that would otherwise be flooded. Such constructions have proven effective in protecting low-lying coastal sites (such as New Orleans), and in extending land reclamation projects below sea level (as in the Netherlands). A 2014 article in Scientific American suggests that seawalls and similar measures, like protective coastal dunes, will become more popular as the cost of such projects are overshadowed by the potential costs of damage caused by rising seas. One kind of project, more ambitious in scope, was implemented by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, president of the Maldives: the creation of an artificial island called Hulhumale. This higher island was created from dredged-up sand on a shallow lagoon in the early 2000s. Since then, new infrastructure was established, and at least several thousand people have begun to live there. Residents noted that they were not motivated by concerns of climate change, but stated that living on Hulhumale was more pleasant, cleaner, and less expensive than living in the capital city of Male; in turn, this new living area has helped ease overpopulation in Male. Thus, as noted in an NPR news story on the subject, this new artificial island seems to have resolved several problems for the Maldives. Indeed, other nations, like Kiribati, have also begun to consider similar ideas regarding artificial islands. Needless to say, the biggest drawback of this method is the sheer amount of resources and funding which would be required for such feats of engineering. A few of these solutions, while they may seem daunting on the whole, are shown to be workable and within the realm of possibility. Moreover, they may give some direction and focus to humanitarian efforts concerned with rising sea levels. For further reading on the subject, here are links to the main articles I looked at: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sea-walls-may-be-cheaper-than-rising-waters/ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18425626

And here is a link to the youtube trailer for "Sun Come Up":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3broZl8sl_g