Creating climate resilient and safer islands in the Maldives

Business Developments & Projects

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has officially approved a project proposed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA): Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives.

MTCC

This project aims at establishing a climate resilient mechanism for coastal conservation and protection against future disasters, hence, enhancing resilience and the safety of the Maldives.

According to JICA, the work will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11 and 13. Also, the work is in line with the priorities of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses.

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company photo

The Republic of Maldives is comprised of about 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean.

With the ground lying about 1-2 meters above the average sea level, this small archipelago – particularly the inhabited islands – has been suffering from coastal erosion. Many of these islands have been and will be severely affected by sea level rise and high waves due to climate change.

“Coastal erosion will cause serious damage not only to the inhabited areas and infrastructure, but also to the coastal ecosystem, water resources, and consequently key livelihoods such as fisheries,” JICA said.

Assessing the impacts of climate change

To protect people in the Maldives from disaster risks such as cyclones, storm surges and tsunamis, JICA has supported the country to construct seawalls on Male Island. The cooperation has also been extended to the establishment of the national disaster Early Warning and Information Broadcasting System, to alert and guide the public in case of emergency.

Source: JICA

Through this project, JICA will support the Maldives government to develop a national policy on the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) for protecting coastal environment and building its resilience against disasters.

Community-led coastal protection/conservation plans will be prepared based on the ICZM for the five target islands where approximately 9,000 people live.

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company photo

The program will also strengthen the capacity of stakeholders for establishing and operating the early warning system and monitoring systems of waves, sea level, coral reef and land use.

According to JICA, this work would facilitate assessing the impacts of climate change on the coastal areas and undertaking adequate adaptation measures.

Rising sea level

The low elevation of the 188 small, inhabited islands of the Republic of Maldives makes them highly vulnerable to severe weather events, while retreating inland or to higher ground is impossible. 

Accelerated sea level rise due to climate change will have devastating effects on the islands, and could threaten their very existence.

This project will address these challenges by enhancing coastal management, including the protective functions of natural sandy beaches and coral reefs. It will do this through integrated coastal zone management, early warning and early action, and knowledge sharing. 

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company photo

Also, the program marks the first time such an adaptive beach protection solution will be implemented on public land in the Maldives islands. 

JICA said that they will continue to support the efforts of developing countries for building climate-resilient societies and disaster risk reduction.