Environmental Science Report: Global Responses to Rising Sea Levels

This report examines the global responses to rising sea levels, a critical consequence of climate change. It explores various policy options implemented by countries, including adaptation strategies such as risk assessments and migration. The report highlights the construction of dikes and embankments to mitigate salinity intrusion, and discusses the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow down the melting of polar ice. It also addresses the necessity of migration and the development of frameworks to accommodate displaced populations. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the need for compensation and relief aid to support vulnerable island nations that are disproportionately affected by rising sea levels, despite contributing negligibly to global warming. The report concludes by advocating for a global climate change commission to provide financial assistance to these nations.

Running head: RESPONSES TO RISING SEA LEVELS 1
Responses to Rising Sea Levels
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Responses to Rising Sea Levels
Equivocal global warming has continued to cause widespread melting of polar ice and snow
thereby increasing the global sea levels (Lister & Muk-Pavic, 2015). For instance, the coastal
region south of Vietnam is expected to rise by 30cm by the year 2050 (Reddy, 2017). Such
further increase in sea level is anticipated to have far-reaching consequences on nations along
coastal regions. As a result, countries have suggested, formulated and implemented policies to
mitigate the effects of rising sea levels as follows.
Policy Options
First, Smajgl et al. argue that adaptation to sea level rise is necessary. Whereby, a climate change
risk assessment is developed. Adaptation strategies can then be used as critical tools to address
the sea-level rise problem (2015, p. 7-12). Subsequently, the Australian government together
with countries to the South Pacific region have begun “climate change risk and vulnerability
assessments” (Smajgl et al., 2015). The states have emulated options such as abandoning
vulnerable areas (migration), setback provisions, and protection. Notably, each of these strategies
requires a significant capital outlay.
Construction of Dikes and Embankments
Also, rising sea levels infiltrate the existing fresh groundwater aquifers and subsequently
increase the salinity gradient. As a result, the Vietnamese government has invested in the large-
scale construction of dikes and embankments along sluice gates to mitigate salinity intrusion into
coastal agricultural areas. Alternatively, the government has introduced salinity-tolerant crops to
alleviate the threat of low production (Reddy, 2017).
Reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
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GHC gas emissions result in the melting of the polar glacier as well as thermal expansion of sea
and oceanic waters and, consequently, sea-level rise. In spite of implementation and enforcement
of policies in existence, the global temperature is expected to rise by 30C by the year 2100
(Weissenberger & Chouinard, 2015). Therefore, a reduction in harmful emissions that could
rescue low-lying islands from being submerged is not possible. However, a significant decrease
in Greenhouse gas emissions could substantially delay the potential sinking, and consequently,
reducing the burden Island states have to encounter while accommodating mass migration
(Reddy, 2017).
Migration
Environmental volatility characterized by floods, changing coastlines and soil erosion as a result
of sea-level rise creates a necessity for people to migrate. For instance, approximately 2600
people relocated from Papua New Guinea’s Carteret to Bougainville due to inundation that
resulted from high sea levels. Simultaneously, frameworks regarding housing, work, services,
and citizenship have been developed to accommodate migrations. Notably, continued sea level
rise could soon lead to international and cross-border migrations (Weissenberger & Chouinard,
2015).
Compensation and Relief Aid
Despite the fact that vulnerable Island nations contribute negligibly to global warming, they are
the worst recipients of the threats of sea level rise. They are burdened with expenses to replace
wetlands or to reinforce seawalls. Besides, such nations suffer from overpopulation,
unemployment, inadequate resources and low Gross Domestic Product (GDP). For example,
Tuvalu entirely depends on foreign aid contributions from the United Kingdom, Australia and
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Japan (Weissenberger & Chouinard, 2015). It is a moral obligation of the high GHG emitting
nations, and the international community at large to help vulnerable countries survive.
Consequently, there is a possibility of establishing a global climate change commission. The
commission will be mandated to compensate such nations from a pool of funds (Lister & Muk-
Pavic, 2015).
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References
Lister, N., & Muk-Pavic, E. (2015). Sustainable artificial island concept for the Republic of
Kiribati. Ocean Engineering, 98, 78-87. doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2015.01.013
Reddy, P. M. (2017). Sinking Small Island Nations: Calls for a Lifeboat. SSRN Electronic
Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.3030203
Smajgl, A., Toan, T. Q., Nhan, D. K., Ward, J., Trung, N. H., Tri, L. Q., … Vu, P. T. (2015).
Responding to rising sea levels in the Mekong Delta. Nature Climate Change, 5(2), 167-
174. doi:10.1038/nclimate2469
Weissenberger, S., & Chouinard, O. (2015). The Vulnerability of Coastal Zones Towards
Climate Change and Sea Level Rise. SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science, 7-31.
doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9888-4_2
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