Pacific islands face risk of drowning as sea levels rising faster than expected

Source: The post is based on the article “Pacific islands face risk of drowning as sea levels rising faster than expected”  published in India Today on 18th August 2023.

What is the News?

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released a report titled “State of Climate in the South-West Pacific, 2022”. 

What are the key findings of the report?

Rising Sea Levels: The report has issued a warning about rising sea levels in the Pacific Islands. They report that sea levels in this region are increasing at a rate of about 4 mm per year, which is slightly higher than the global average. 

– This poses a significant threat to low-lying islands like Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands, as it could lead to destructive floods, damaging agricultural lands and habitable areas.

Marine Heatwaves: The report highlights the occurrence of long-lasting marine heatwaves in the area northeast of Australia and south of Papua New Guinea. These heat waves have had adverse effects on marine life and the livelihoods of local communities.

Disasters: The number of disasters reported in the region in 2022 decreased by around 39 per cent compared to 2021.

– The region reported 35 natural hazards compared to 57 in 2021, but the overall economic damages were 53% more than the loss in 2021.

– Nearly 98% of the economic loss has been due to floods. The economic losses associated with flooding in 2022 were more than four times the average over the past 20 years (2002-2021).