Climate change affects all communities but perhaps one of the most harshly impacted are those of island origin. Island communities are most susceptible to the effects of climate change for a variety of reasons including their size, location, and infrastructure. Climate change can have an impact on the ecology, economy, and culture.
The small size as well as low elevation and a tendence to be in a remote geographical location cause island communities to be particularly vulnerable when it comes to climate change. Climate change causes rising sea levels due to melting ice which can cause flooding along the coasts. Island communities, because of their small size and the tendency for residency as well as infrastructure to be centered around coastal areas tend to be harmed particularly harshly by flooding. The flooding ruins homes and businesses as well as causing erosion along the shore line and interfering with coastal leisure activities.
Due to their size and remote geographical location islands depend heavily on means of transport in order to import goods, fuel and materials as well as receive tourists and allow them to travel the islands. The flooding due to rising sea levels and coastal erosion causes a loss of critical transportation areas such as airports, roads, and ports. These losses cause issues in regards to importing resources as well as the accessibility to tourists.
I used information mostly for the EPA for my research and was astonished by what i learned. Leaving outside of Boston and then going to school in Maine i rarely think about island communities, and because of that i never really took time to think about the impact climate change must have of these areas. The issues coastal areas face because of climate change is enhanced ten fold in island communities because their whole perimeter is coastal. Those poor people are surrounded by flood waters and are disconnected from the outside world. Climate change impacts every aspect of their lives.
