How would you feel if you were forced out of your house because of something you didn’t do? For me I would be very angry. Well this is happening to millions of people all around the world. The reason millions of people are being forced out of their homes is climate change. One of the reasons people are leaving their homes is because of the rise in sea level. Because of this rise in sea level, their homes become engulfed by the ocean. In this paper I will be discussing different instances where people were forced to leave their homes because of climate change, ways we can help, and what is being done today to help those being affected. This new wave of climate refugees need help and it is up to us as humans to help our fellow brothers and sisters.
First of all, what is a climate refugee? Well a climate refugee is someone who is forced to move because of environmental changes that force them to leave their homes. The main contributor to this surplus of climate refugees is global warming and we are seeing higher temperatures as the earth is warming up and trapping harmful gases in the atmosphere, gases that we produce. Also, because the earth is warming up, the ice caps start to melt and causes the sea level to rise. When the sea level rises, those who live close to the ocean endure the consequences. For example, thousands of people from Bangladesh have forced to move from the homes because of the rise in sea level[1]. In 2017 there was a monsoon of flooding that was worsened by the rise in the sea level. Salt water from the ocean had contaminated thousands of peoples drinking water and fields. The rise in sea level has submerged entire villages under water. Where once was, that land is now in water. People who were forced to move, moved into busy cities that were already crowded. According to the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) there was a 60% increase of people moving into the slums in Bangladesh over the last 13 years. The majority of these people were climate refuges.
Now what about the people who live on island. If the sea level keeps rising then they will have no where to go. There entire country would be under water. This is already happening to the people of the Federated States of Micronesia[2]. They are on the frontline of the effects of climate change. It is a life or death situation for these people. In the last five year the shore line has risen 50 feet. This has affected the locals drastically. The rise in the sea level has affected their water source. In the past the locals have gotten their water from underground wells. The rise in sea level has contaminated their water with salt water that isn’t drinkable. Since then they have been catching rain water to use, but because of the long droughts that has also been a challenge. If the sea level continues to rise than in 50 years the entire island would be gone. These people don’t have any where else left to go to, so if their island is gone their civilization will die.
Now what is being done to help those who are affected by the rise in sea level. Most countries in Europe and the United States aren’t really doing anything to help people who are being affected by the rising sea level. But there are some who are trying to help. Fiji for example has offered to take in people from the surrounding island of Kiribati and Tuvala[3]. These islands are expected to disappear because of the rise of the see level. We a human being have to help one another whenever there is trouble. It is surprising to see a country that isn’t really wealthy or powerful trying to help while large wealthy countries sit back and watch. These powerful countries are the main contributors to climate change. Yet they don’t feel the consequences. Poor people from small countries have to endure all of the punishment. Another group that is trying to help is the people of LYON[4]. They are working with people close to the ocean with their infrastructure. They provide services for streets, sewer, stormwater, and floodplain management. They try to help minimize the damage that rising sea levels might cause.
In summary, the rise in sea level is a major issue that needs to be addressed. It causes millions of people to become climate refuges. It up to us to help those who are being effected by the rise in sea level.
[1] Vidal, John. “’Boats Pass over Where Our Land Was’: Climate Refugees in Bangladesh | John Vidal.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 4 Jan. 2018, www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jan/04/bangladesh-climate-refugees-john-vidal-photo-essay.
[2] LYON. Vanishing Island. Video. Directed by Massy Halbert, Jim Lyon, Mike Yautake
[3] Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-15/a-tiny-island-prepares-the-world-for-a-climate-refugee-crisis.
[4] LYON | Engineering Services, lyon.us.com/engineering.
