Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change & Rising Sea Level on Low Lying Reef Islands

Abstract: There is a large amount of interdependence between coral reefs and the inhabitants of reef islands, who use the reef as a source of income, leisure and sustenance. However, human-driven climate change has begun to negatively affect many low-lying atoll nations, who have little to no answer to rising sea levels and the increasing frequency of storm events. The added stress to coral reefs has inhibited their ability to adapt and therefore their capability to protect and maintain these islands. These issues have started to evolve from ecological issues to socio-economic ones, as the inhabitants of these islands will eventually be forced to find a new place to live – leaving not only their homes and livelihood, but their cultural and ancestral homeland with which they have a deep connection.

Read full report here