Imagine golden sandy beaches and lush green forests with a beautiful azure sea stretching as far as the eye can see. Now imagine that those golden sandy beaches belong to islands that have an average elevation of just 2 metres above sea level. This is the reality for the nine tiny islands and coral atolls of Tuvalu, a nation in the South Pacific Ocean. (See Figure 1, below.)
Tuvalu has a population of just under 11,500 people and is the fourth-smallest country in the world by landmass size, yet these islands are feeling the full force of climate change, despite their contribution to the enhanced greenhouse effect being very small. Tuvalu is under threat due to sea-level rise, and its low elevation combined with its island composition mean that many of its residents are likely to lose their land within the next 10 years.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
