Climate Change's Assault On Island Nations

As yet another major hurricane bears down on the United States, people are finally starting to realize that the increase in the number and strength of hurricanes on a warming planet is not a coincidence. Meanwhile, the world's island nations - who deal with climate change each and every day - made history earlier this week when they formally asked the UN Security Council - the world's most powerful body -- to save them from extinction. You can see the UN Resolution here.

With cultures and traditions as old as any on the planet, island nations have survived colonization, world wars and nuclear testing. But they will not survive climate change. If nothing changes, they will be buried in a human-made tidal wave and be gone forever. The world will not only lose brilliant coral reefs and islands, but also cultures, communities, and families who do not deserve to perish because we cannot control our carbon emissions. They are asking the world's only body responsible for international peace and security -- the UN Security Council -- to save them.

Let us pray for their success - for their sake, and ours.

Comments

[JeffShaw]

Speaking as someone who has lived in an island nation in the South Pacific, this is terrifying. We'd all do well to heed this warning before it's too late.

[jsguntzel]

I remember reading a BBC story years ago that I just dug up. The opening sentences still read like some sort of fiction--maybe the opening news cast in some apocalyptic Will Smith movie:

"The Pacific nation of Tuvalu has secured New Zealand's agreement to accept an annual quota of its citizens as refugees. They want to leave Tuvalu because they say rising sea levels are driving them out."

In light of this UN effort it reads to me now like a chilling glimpse into the future. Thanks for this post.

[MitTheMan]

"I have no doubt that a trend of global warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with. To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have, or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change."

"First of all, I don't think it's within the power of human beings to assure that the climate does not change, as millions of years of history have shown, and second of all, I guess I would ask which human beings - where and when - are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take."

A quote from NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.

Once the humans who have been accorded the privilege of fixing global warming, they can then turn their attention to world peace and curing all diseases.

[annaroberts]

It is sad that we don't hear from mobilized coalitions of affected islanders - no doubt thanks to the mainstream media. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Let's hope they at least find a voice at the UN.

[WilliePilgrim]

I suppose that if the amount of water held by ice-caps was the only factor in whether sea level relative to a specific islands physical elevation changed, you might have a point. Unfortunately, it is not. Isostatic rebound, tectonic forces due to heating and cooling and as well as the actual temperature of the water itself come into play in a complex interaction that is beyond the criteria for predictability, as is so much of speculation regarding climate change. That said, and before I'm painted as an "anti-science" know-nothing, I would like to add that I do believe that nations of the world should address the environmental assault that humans have been perpetrating and work together to address the genuine threats to humanity. Climate change is not it. Tectonic upheaval, cosmic bombardment. These kiinds of events have in modern times been disregarded as mere "catastrophism". The more we see the real picture the more we see that catastrophes of global proportion have happened before and we should consider doing something about them sooner than any threat of the polar ice caps on Greenland and Antarctica collapsing.

[ATrumanDemocrat]

Michael Critchon wrote one of his famous sci-fi thrillers on this topic. The premise was that global climate change was a hoax and that island nations were not in danger. George W. Bush read the book (possibly the only study he has done on climate change) and invited Critchon to the White House to discuss it. Perhaps it is time for Mr. Critchon to explain to these islanders that the rsinig sea levels and melting ice caps are all in their head and to "stop whining". Maybe he can paddle out to see them before they disappear all together.

[NikolaiGogol17]

I remember reading that Australia is already planning for Islanders to evacuate their homes due to sea-level changes, and to resettle in Queensland. Is this true? If so, a sad, sad commentary on the state of affairs. More about this issue, please.

[LK321]

It's about time - no, it's well overdue - that we start addressing this issue and the very real front line victims of climate change, many of whom are on the verge of literally drowning due to problems they had no hand in generating!

[467SixthAve]

This is an issue that has been overlooked for far too long. Let's hope the UN acts quickly and decisively. Thanks Nicholas, for your attention to this.

[fishsandwichesr2good]

And the UN will do exactly what? The islanders would have a better chance of getting some action if they did some kind of Kabuki dance to Neptune.

As for the posts claim that "the increase in the number and strength of hurricanes on a warming planet is not a coincidence.", let me remind you that the leading hurricane expert resigned from the IPCC because of the politicization of this subject. As stated in Chris Landsea's (I love the irony of his last name) resignation letter, there is little evidence to justify Kevin Trenberth's assertion in October that in light of current warming trends, "the North Atlantic hurricane season of 2004 may well be a harbinger of the future." So much for "consensus".

May I also add that we didn't hear much about this subject during the last couple years of below average hurricane activity?

[larry278]

Too true. The UN is nato, no action-talk only.

[realpolitic]

There might not be a consensus on whether warming causes an increase in the velocity of hurricanes, which has little to do with the consesus on man-made warming. Of course, you may have missed that subtle point!