SEATTLE, Washington — Maldives is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Consequently, the country’s economy is mainly based on tourism. Unfortunately, continuous climate change has put the Maldives’ existence in great danger. The submerging of the island could leave many of the 500,000 people of Maldives on the brink of homelessness. Therefore, homelessness in the Maldives is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. In 2009, President Nasheed drew the attention of the international community during the Copenhagen Summit. He advocated for the Small Island States and demanded a global cut in carbon emissions.
Rising Sea Levels and Homelessness in The Maldives
The main culprit of sea-level rise is the increasing concentration of greenhouse gas in the environment. Among all other gases, greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for 80% of the carbon dioxide currently in the atmosphere. As a result of these emissions, there is extreme heat, high-speed storms, droughts, fires, rainfall, flooding and rising sea-levels. Consequently, the intensity of this rise can reshape the continental figures on the earth.
The Maldives Islands cover around 90,000 square kilometers of the Indian Ocean. This beautiful archipelago is home to more than 500,000 people. “As the world’s most low lying country, more than 80% of the land is less than one meter above mean sea levels.” The country’s peak is two meters above sea level. Since the Maldives has such a low elevation, any abnormal weather conditions could result in the complete submersion of these islands. Therefore, homelessness in the Maldives is not the same as it is in other nations. The entire Maldivian population fears homelessness should their islands undergo any more violent weather conditions.
Possible Solutions to Homelessness in The Maldives
- An Exodus of the Maldivian People – In The Montevideo Convention, a state is defined as having “a population, a defined territory, a government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.” Losing any of the discussed conditions doesn’t mean the end of the state. Therefore, instead of facing homelessness, the Maldive government has considered relocation as an alternative. Given its sizeable population, one country may be unwilling to host them all. But the Maldivian population could spread out across several nations. However, this brings into question the state’s sovereignty as it would technically no longer have a defined territory. If this option is seriously considered, the Maldivian government could pursue what is known as ex-situ nationhood. This means that its government would be situated in a single location and manage the affairs of its people around the world from a distance.
- Artificial Island – Though artificial islands do not have a legal definition per the U.N. Convention On The Law Of The Sea (UNCLOS), some scholars have attempted to infer the definition. The result being, a landmass man-made that is composed of naturally-occurring objects and is surrounded by water. Thus, the Maldives have seriously considered creating an artificial island and relocating there rather than in other countries. This would allow the country to maintain sovereignty as a nation while also solving its homelessness problem. One example of this is Hulhumale, a man-made island that will be able to accommodate roughly 130,000 people once it is finished in about 2023. Though it is not big enough for the Maldives’ entire population, it is a possible solution.
- Relocation to Another Country – In case of completely being submerged into water, the Maldivian population has considered three countries for permanent relocation. Australia‘s vast geographical area can provide a home for the Maldivian population. However, because of the increased economic strain this would have on Australia, it has remained silent on the issue. Additionally, the Maldivian government is also considering India but has not communicated with them regarding this possibility. New Zealand is also being considered.
Besides the Maldives, other island nations like Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands are on the verge of disappearance as well. This problem extends beyond the Maldives. In times of need, the entire international community needs to come together in support of viable solutions.
– Anuja Kumari
Photo: Flickr