Disappearing Islands

[ysabetwordsmith]

The Solomon Islands are going under.  :(  This kind of thing has been predicted for some time, and poses a serious threat to island nations.

Meanwhile over in Terramagne, climate change is not as bad as here because people have done more to ameliorate it, but it's still a threat.  Hence the Republic of the Maldives seeking people with superpowers to help keep it above the waves.

Comments

[earthspirits]

Very sorry to hear this - I had no idea! That's quite disturbing.

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Sea level is rising, and likely to do so more rapidly. Storms are getting more intense as water warms. These are known facts.

You know who actually gives a fuck? Insurance companies, who are on the hook for damages. Their response? Raise rates and/or refuse to insure people. :/ But hey, at least they admit there's a problem and are doing something about it. Selfish shit, but not in denial.

Island nations are most threatened by climate change, as many of them are only a few meters above sea level and it doesn't take much to flood them. Others like Hawaii are fortunate to have taller mountains ... but their big cities are usually still on the coasts and therefore vulnerable.

Any nation with coastline is going to lose that territory. Louisiana is already bleeding acres due to blocking the silt flow from the Mississippi River. America will lose the entire eastern seaboard and a big chunk of the southeast, plus a little along the west. Many of Europe's biggest cities will go under. For once, Africa doesn't get kicked in the crotch; most of it will remain high and dry, but it still loses some highly valuable, densely populated coastline.

Re: Well...

[earthspirits]

Yes, I agree - and it's disturbing and upsetting on so many levels.

[redsixwing]

Well, crap.

It's good that they're learning bits about wave erosion from this, but I suspect it's still going to be too little, too late.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

and there are still people who deny it's happening... Meantime, the Philippines [on behalf of the pacific nations] are bringing a class action suit against Exxon, BP, Shell and other oil companies, claiming that climate change violates their civil rights and they are culpably negligent having known about it for 45 years.

Interesting times we live in...

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I hope they rip Big Oil to shreds and put the C-level people's heads on pikes, as a reminder to the next ten generations that some power is not worth the price (pun intentional).

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I have heard of several similar lawsuits. I think they have a low chance of success, as money tends to buy freedom from consequences, but I wish them well.

Re: Yes...

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Money buys insulation from the reality of consequences. But even the best insulation eventually burns through...

Re: Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Money can protect people from legal and social consequences, and sadly, that is all that many of them care about. Without these prompt consequences, rich people and corporations tend to continue doing what pleases them.

Physical consquences are different. No matter how much you ignore the facts, they do not stop being true. Burning fossil fuels generates a lot of heat; heat melts ice; meltwater raises ocean levels; islands are going under and coastlines are eroding. That's the pesky thing about facts.

I should perhaps have gone into more detail earlier.

Re: Yes...

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know... what I meant was, their money can only protect them so far. Once the physical consequences become painfully obvious and affect a very large number of people, then there will be more of a public will to bring to account those responsible, and once that demand is strident enough, no amount of money will protect them.

Although, the fact that the rich tend to buy tropical islands, or put their money in banks there, which are then going to be badly affected by rising sea levels is just a nice touch of irony.

Re: Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>Once the physical consequences become painfully obvious and affect a very large number of people, then there will be more of a public will to bring to account those responsible, and once that demand is strident enough, no amount of money will protect them.<<

I've seen one account of an executive firing people en masse. They turned into a mob and attacked him. Security barely got him out alive. It's an early sign. Later versions get ... messier.

>> Although, the fact that the rich tend to buy tropical islands, or put their money in banks there, which are then going to be badly affected by rising sea levels is just a nice touch of irony. <<

LOL yes. Especially when they also put their boltholes there.