The Maldives, a low-lying island nation in the Indian Ocean, faces an existential threat from climate change and rising sea levels, with projections suggesting 80% of the country could be uninhabitable by 2050 and entirely submerged by 2100. This extreme vulnerability is already evident: by 2021, 90% of islands experienced severe erosion and 97% lost fresh groundwater, alongside significant coral reef damage from events like the 2016 bleaching event. Maldivian authorities are prominent in international advocacy, dedicating over 50% of their national budget to adaptation efforts and even announcing a carbon-neutral plan in 2009 under then-President Mohamed Nasheed.
Interestingly, a 2020 University of Plymouth study revealed some islands might naturally adapt by building higher elevations through sediment movement, offering a new perspective on resilience. However, the study also cautioned that man-made sea walls could compromise this natural adjustment, underscoring the critical need for global warming mitigation to protect these islands and their populations.