IPCC (2019). Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. Cambridge University Press.
Hallegatte, S., Green, C., Nicholls, R. J., & Corfee-Morlot, J. (2013). Future flood losses in major coastal cities. Nature Climate Change, 3(9), 802-806.
The Maldives, a low-lying island nation in the Indian Ocean, is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Rising sea levels and increased storm intensity are causing widespread coastal erosion, flooding, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources. The Maldives government has implemented various measures to mitigate these impacts, including the construction of sea walls, beach nourishment, and relocation of at-risk communities (Shah et al., 2017).
The impacts of climate change on coastal geography are multifaceted. Coastal erosion, for example, is leading to the loss of beaches, dunes, and cliffs, compromising coastal infrastructure and threatening human settlements. Increased storm intensity and frequency are also causing more frequent and severe coastal flooding, damage to coastal ecosystems, and disruption to marine industries (Hallegatte et al., 2013).