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Small island developing states (SIDS) are low-lying coastal countries. They share similar characteristics:

• their populations are growing
• they have limited resources and are often remote
• isolated and fragile environments

The Maldives

Located in the Indian Ocean, an archipelago of over 1,000 islands called the Maldives are a set of islands which are extremely vulnerable to sea level rise. With a combined population of approximately 350,000 and many more annual tourists, living on the islands is a great risk to its inhabitants.

Physical factors - the height of the islands makes them vulnerable to sea level rise. The Maldives’ highest point is Mount Villingili at 5.1 metres, and 80 per cent of the land is less than one metre above sea level.

Social factors - most people live directly at the coastline and many live in poorly constructed houses, often constructed of bamboo and tree branches.

Economic factors - the people of the Maldives live on low wages and struggle to cope financially. The gross domestic product (GDP) figures rank the country as the 165th poorest nation on the planet - out of 192. Therefore, due to a lack of income and tax contributions, the government is unable to defend the islands, and the people themselves are unable to improve their homes.

The impact of flooding in the Maldives

Damage to urban areas - the capital city Malé is where most people live. Here, with Japanese support, a large concrete sea wall has been constructed to protect the small city. The sea wall needs constant repair and this costs the Maldives money which they have to raise from residents and tourists in the form of taxation.

Drinking water - salt water intrusion - when salt water from the sea contaminates drinking water, it puts great stress on accessing enough drinking water from the ground. Bringing in supplies from abroad is often expensive and is unsustainable in the long term.

Tourism under threat - currently, tourism accounts for 90 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) within the Maldives. Previous storms have already destroyed and damaged some tourist resorts and facilities. The minor threat of tsunami and coastal flooding means some tourists are unwilling to visit.

Environmental refugees - rising sea levels threaten the existence of the Maldives. The islands may even disappear during this century and all those who live there will become environmental refugees.

Damage to coral reefs - as sea temperatures rise, ecosystems such as coral reefs will die. Coral bleaching occurs, which in turn affects fish and plant life which feed off the coral. This too has a negative impact on tourism as many people visit the Maldives to experience snorkelling and diving.