Maldives is formed by 26 natural atolls along with a few islands and isolated reefs nearby to it’s North and South. Boduthiladhunmathi is the largest of all these atolls and Huvadhu that consists of most islands. Though Maldives is popular for its tourist destinations, it has impressed the world with its stance against climate change and handled the crisis better in advance.
Scattered across the Arabian Sea, south-west of India & Sri Lanka, Maldives attracts many travelers across the globe that lets them spend picture perfect moments whilst the entire stay. The glowing beach on the Vaadhoo Island, offer to stay in a water bungalow with stunning views, stroll on the white sand beach, etc. all these provide a perfect trip that would be worth cherishing in our life.
It’s overwhelming at times to know “climate change” is real, though not many of us may understand it on day-to-day basis, Maldives are one among the 1st Nations to face the aftermath of our reasons to pollute the world.
How Climate Change is Affecting Maldives Islands?
The beauty of Maldives is undoubtedly natural and pleasuring that could help one to recreate themselves from within! Having said that, this small island nation foresees a threat which could impact them sooner than compared to other nations and countries. Its luxury beach resorts may be world-famous, with more than 80% of its scattered 1,200 islands that stand less than 1m above sea level face climate change threat of rising sea-level.
“We are one of the most vulnerable countries on Earth and therefore need to adapt”
Country’s VP Mohammed Waheed Hassan in 2010 World Bank report.
He also mentioned that around 200 natural inhabited islands could be submerged by 2100.
How Maldives Plan to Tackle Climate Change Crisis?
To preserve its existence, Maldivians are determined to fight back, in 2008, then president Md Nasheed made global headlines by announcing a plan to buy land elsewhere so his citizens could relocate if islands submerge.
This plan gave a path to consider whether it might be best to work with the sea rather than against it, just as few floating urban developments in Amsterdam, Maldives turns out to make the most challenging geo-engineering task to create a 21st century city dubbed the “City of Hope” on a new artificial island christened Hulhumale.
The 1st Phase of Hulhumale’s land reclamation began in 1997, the process of reclamation of 188 hectors was completed in 2002. Two years later, the island celebrated the arrival of its first 1,000 residents. Further 2nd Phase was completed in 2015 which allows 50,000 people to live by 2019!
The ongoing land reclamation process using millions of cubic meters of sand pumped from the seabed has raised the new island more than 2m above sea level, City of Hope makes it possible for new settlement to relieve the over-crowding that blights Male, where more than 130,000 people cram into 1 square mile (just more than 2.5 sq km).
Hulhumale has set its ambitions high that eventually let them host up to 240,000 people in well-designed style by the mid-2020s. Their ambition helps them to accommodate luxurious housing plans as well as the basic ones, new job opportunities plus open recreational space that is three times larger per person than Male has made Maldives envision better accommodation for locals as well as for tourists.
Efforts for better infrastructure
As compared to the unplanned and over-crowded nature of Male, Hulhumale was designed with initiatives that had innovation as well as better acceptability for the civilization that’s staying on a newly made island. Buildings are oriented north-south to reduce heat gain and improve thermal comfort. Electric buses and bicycle lanes are also the part of the city landscape, which help in reducing the use of car/private vehicle.
Huhumale is well described as “Asia’s first 100% gigabit enabled smart city” that provides fast digital access for residents based on widespread optical fibre technology as GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Networks).
Flights from India to Maldives
5 flights will now run between the countries every week under the special air bubble arrangement (temporary arrangement between two countries to restart commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.)
IndiGo Airlines are scheduled to run 2 weekly flights between Kochi and Male, National Maldivian Airline will operate between Male and Trivandrum & 1 Air India flight will operate between Delhi, Trivandrum and Male every week.
