The Disappearing Islands: The Devastating Effects of Rising Sea Levels

🌊Sea level rise in the Solomon Islands is three times the global average, resulting in the disappearance of islands and loss of homes.

🏝️The disappearance of islands in the Solomons not only has an environmental impact but also threatens the livelihoods and culture of the local people.

🏘️Rising sea levels have caused dozens of houses to be lost, forcing people to leave their homes and communities.

🌍The effects of sea level rise in the Solomons are a preview of what the rest of the world may experience in the next century.

👥The loss of these islands not only affects the people living on them but also impacts the wider community and ecosystem.

Why are sea levels rising in the Solomon Islands?

—Sea levels in the Solomons are rising because of a combination of climate change and trade winds pushing water into this part of the Pacific.

What is the rate of sea level rise in the Solomons compared to the global average?

—The rate of sea level rise in the Solomons is three times the global average, with rates between seven and ten millimeters per year.

How are the local people affected by the disappearance of islands?

—The disappearance of islands in the Solomons threatens the livelihoods and culture of the local people, who rely on these islands for fishing, picnics, and as a place to call home.

What is the future of the Solomon Islands?

—Without intervention, it is predicted that the Solomon Islands will eventually disappear as a result of rising sea levels.

How are wildlife, such as turtles, affected by rising sea levels?

—Rising sea levels and the loss of beaches have a negative impact on wildlife, such as the Hawksbill turtle, which nests on these disappearing beaches.

00:06The northwestern end of the Solomon Islands is experiencing the devastating effects of rising sea levels, causing islands to disappear and homes to be lost.

03:21Sea level rise in the Solomons is three times the global average, with rates between seven and ten millimeters per year, significantly higher than the world average.

08:42The disappearance of islands in the Solomons not only has an environmental impact but also threatens the livelihoods and culture of the local people.

13:16The loss of these islands not only affects the people living on them but also impacts the wider community and ecosystem.