Effects of Global Warming on Small Island Nations

1
Effects of Global Warming on Small Island Nations

• A Special Emphasis on Fiji Islands

2
What is Global Warming ?

• A gradual warming of Earths atmosphere
  reportedly caused by the burning of fossils fuels
  and industrial pollutant.
• It is caused by gaseous that trap suns heat in
  Earths atmosphere. Primarily carbon dioxide and
  CFC gaseous are to blame.

3
So Are We Really Warming Up?

• Yes !!! We Are. Oceans and Atmosphere are getting
  WARMER. GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL.

4
GLOBAL WARMING IS BAD NEWS FORFIJI

5
Slice of
Fiji
6
Some Background Information About Fiji

• Its an archipelago of over 300 islands located in
  the heart of the South Pacific Ocean.
• Approximately 0.9 Million People.
• Fiji greets the worlds new day first
  International Date Line crosses the island of
  Taveuni.
• Most culturally diverse island in the South
  Pacific region. Fijians and Indians dominate the
  population, respectively.
• Reasonably under developed country. But in
  general people have fairly good quality of life
  and receive good education.
• Tourism and Sugar industry are the backbone of
  Fijis economy.
• Many people still rely heavily on the natural
  resources to provide for themselves. Fishing and
  small scale farming are still the major source of
  income for thousands of people.
• Less than 0.1 Annual Emission of Carbon dioxide.
  

7
Adverse Effects of Global Warming on Fiji

• Slight Increase in Sea Levels
• Increases the Temperature of Sea
• Blamed for Severe Climatic Change

8
Increase in Sea Levels

• Incursion of seawater inland.
• Threatens the villages around the coasts.
• Enormous soil erosion near coastal areas.
• Ruined agricultural land. Intruding seawater has
  changed the pH of farming lands and orchards
  hence lowered the productivity.
• Threatens the fresh water supply of low lying
  islands on the west coasts.

9
Sea Water Incursion
10
Sea Temperature Increases

• Increases the rate of coral bleaching.
• Corals are not able to regenerate.
• Directly impacts the marine ecosystem.
• Indirectly hurts the people who are dependent on
  tourism industry. And all those who make a living
  from the sea.
• Higher temperatures coupled with Crown of Thorns
  Starfish means disaster for coral reefs.

11
Corals
12
Climatic Changes

• Fiji is continuously hammered by severe climate
  changes. Mostly El Nino is to be blamed.
• Although science has not establish any direct
  correlation between El Nino and Global Warming,
  experts of climate science like Dr. Kevin
  Trenberth believe that Global Warming might have
  increased both the intensity and frequency of El
  Nino.
• The extreme climatic conditions have devastated
  many poor farming communities.

13
Weird Climatic Patterns

• Formation of number of depression/cyclones have
  increased per year. As well as the intensity.
• The average rainfall over the last decade has
  increased from 2500mm to 3200mm.
• Heavy rainfall and cyclones has been witnessed
  during the dry season over the past 5 years.
• Flash flooding and heavy rainfall on the west
  coast has increased in frequency over the last
  decade.
• El Nino is blamed for the first ever drought in
  Fiji (1997). This caused over 50m FJD loss in
  the sugar industry.

14
Extreme Weather
15
Secondary Effects of Global Warming

• Poor farmers suffer.
• Sugar industry was at brink of closure.
• Interest in agriculture is declining.
• Tourism industry is affected.
• Loss of specialized jobs.
• Internal migration to cities.
• Increased problems in the cities.

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So What Can We Do To Help ?.

• We should become more responsible.
• Use more energy friendly products
• Get educated.
• Invest in alternative energy.
• Become involved in environmental awareness.
• THE END