Climate change causes islands to disappear | 60 Minutes Australia
Summary
TLDRThe Solomon Islands, a remote paradise in the Pacific, faces an alarming reality of climate change with islands vanishing at an unprecedented rate. Dr. Simon Talbot's research reveals that in just two decades, some islands have shrunk by half or disappeared entirely, with sea levels rising three times the global average. The impact is not only environmental but also cultural and economic, as homes and livelihoods are washed away. This serves as a stark warning of what could happen globally if climate change is not addressed.
Takeaways
- 🌊 The northwestern end of the Solomon Islands is experiencing rapid sea level rise, with rates three times the global average, causing significant environmental and societal impacts.
- 🏠 Local houses are falling into the ocean due to the accelerated sea level rise, which is a direct consequence of climate change for the inhabitants of these islands.
- 📚 Dr. Simon Talbot's research, initiated during his PhD, has documented the disappearance of islands and the impact of logging runoff on coral reefs in the Solomon Islands.
- 🗺️ Historical surveillance photos from World War II, found in Honiara, have been used to compare and document the loss of landmass in the Solomon Islands over the decades.
- 🏝️ Sodor Mo Island has lost over half of its land area since 2002, indicating a dramatic and rapid change in the landscape due to sea level rise.
- 🌳 Ancient trees, some over 250 years old, are being lost to the ocean, which destabilizes the islands and makes them more vulnerable to erosion and disappearance.
- 📈 Sea levels in the Solomon Islands have risen over 15 centimeters in the past 20 years, a rate that is predicted to be experienced globally over the next century.
- 🏡 Entire islands, including Kea Carley Island, have disappeared, affecting the cultural heritage and livelihoods of local communities who relied on them for sustenance and recreation.
- 🌊 The loss of land is not only impacting human settlements but also wildlife, such as the Hawksbill turtle, whose nesting beaches are being eroded away.
- 🌐 The situation in the Solomon Islands serves as a warning and a 'looking glass' into the potential future effects of climate change and sea level rise worldwide.
- 🙌 The script emphasizes the need for global action on climate change, urging for unity and leadership to address the undeniable impact it has on vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
Q & A
What is the current situation of the Solomon Islands in terms of sea level rise?
-The Solomon Islands are experiencing sea level rise at a rate of 7 to 10 millimeters per year, which is three times the global average of 3.5 millimeters per year. This rapid rise is causing islands to disappear and houses to fall into the ocean.
How does climate change impact the islands of the Solomons?
-Climate change is causing the sea levels to rise, which is not only threatening the existence of the islands but also the livelihoods of the people who live there. It's leading to the disappearance of islands, loss of land, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure.
What role did historical surveillance photos play in Dr. Simon Talbot's research?
-Dr. Simon Talbot used historical surveillance photos from World War II to compare the current state of the islands with their past. This comparison helped illustrate the extent of the islands' erosion and the impact of sea level rise.
What was the significance of the island of Sodor Mo in Dr. Talbot's study?
-Sodor Mo was a significant case study for Dr. Talbot as it showed a drastic change in just 16 years, with half of the island being lost to sea level rise. This island was once intact and stable but is now largely underwater.
How have the local people of the Solomon Islands been affected by the sea level rise?
-The local people have been directly impacted by the loss of land and homes. They are facing the loss of cultural assets and livelihoods, as their islands are shrinking and some have disappeared entirely.
What is the impact of sea level rise on the wildlife, specifically the Hawksbill turtles?
-The rising sea levels are washing away the beaches that Hawksbill turtles use for nesting. This habitat loss is jeopardizing the future of the species, as their nesting grounds are shrinking dramatically.
What does the future hold for the Solomon Islands if the current trend of sea level rise continues?
-If the trend continues, the Solomon Islands could face the complete disappearance of some islands, further loss of land, and significant impacts on the livelihoods of the people and the local ecosystem.
How does the script describe the attitude of the people living in the Solomon Islands towards their changing environment?
-The script describes the people as strong and proud, not asking much from the planet and not being victims. They are hanging onto their land and trying to adapt to the changes, despite the challenges.
What is the significance of the seaweed islands in the context of the script?
-The seaweed islands represent one of the most vulnerable areas in the Solomons archipelago, where the local people are facing the harsh reality of climate change, with their homes and livelihoods at risk due to sea level rise.
What is the role of the Anua Ure Island group as described in the script?
-The Anua Ure Island group is the first and only National Park in the Solomon Islands. It is a critical nesting ground for Hawksbill turtles, and efforts are being made to document and protect it from the impacts of sea level rise.
What message does Dr. Simon Albert convey about the need for global action on climate change?
-Dr. Simon Albert emphasizes the need to take climate pressures seriously and to move beyond political divisiveness. He calls for global leadership and action, recognizing that the impacts of inaction will be felt not just in the Solomons but worldwide.
Outlines
🌊 Vanishing Islands of the Solomons
The Solomon Islands, particularly the northwestern end, are facing the devastating effects of climate change, with sea levels rising at a rate three times the global average. Dr. Simon Talbot's research, initially focused on the impact of logging on coral reefs, expanded to include the study of disappearing islands. Utilizing wartime surveillance photos, he documented the rapid submersion of islands like Sodor Mo, which lost over half of its landmass in just 16 years. The loss of these islands, home to ancient trees and wildlife, is not only an environmental crisis but also a cultural and livelihood disaster for the local communities.
📈 Unprecedented Sea Level Rise in Solomon Islands
Over the past two decades, the Solomon Islands have experienced sea level rise rates exceeding the global average, with significant consequences for the islands' geography and inhabitants. The high tide has breached some islands, causing erosion from both sides and leading to the disappearance of entire landmasses. The increase in sea levels, attributed to climate change and the impact of trade winds, is a precursor to what the rest of the world may face in the coming century. Dr. Simon Albert's research indicates that 1/3 of the 33 studied islands have partially sunk or disappeared, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change.
🏠 The Human Impact of Disappearing Land
The human cost of the Solomon Islands' vanishing land is profound, affecting the lives of residents who are witnessing their homes and livelihoods being washed away. Entire communities, such as the seaweed islands' inhabitants, are grappling with the reality of losing their land to the sea. The loss of land is not only a threat to their homes but also to their means of subsistence, such as fishing and seaweed farming. The narrative of the islanders, like Glarus Hibou, who has seen her family's island vanish, highlights the personal and cultural loss caused by climate change.
🐢 The Ecological Consequences of Eroding Beaches
The ecological impact of the Solomon Islands' eroding beaches extends to the wildlife, including the Hawksbill turtle, whose nesting grounds are being washed away. The shrinking beaches, once wide enough to support a thriving turtle population, have dramatically reduced the available habitat for these creatures. Simon Albert's work with park rangers documents this beach loss, emphasizing the global significance of preserving these species. The Solomon Islands' situation serves as a stark warning of the broader implications of climate change on both human communities and the natural world.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Solomon Islands
💡Climate Change
💡Sea Level Rise
💡Island Disappearance
💡Logging Runoff
💡Coral Reefs
💡Wartime Surveillance Photos
💡Hawksbill Turtle
💡National Park
💡Cyclone
💡Ecosystem Resilience
Highlights
The northwestern end of the Solomon Islands is experiencing rapid sea level rise, with some areas seeing three times the global average.
Climate change is causing islands to disappear, with houses falling into the ocean.
Dr. Simon Talbot's research indicates that some islands have lost over half their landmass in just 16 years.
Ancient trees, which help stabilize islands, are being lost to the rising sea levels.
The Solomon Islands' sea level rise could be a preview of what the rest of the world will experience by the end of the century.
Simon discovered that six out of 33 studied islands have shrunk by up to half, and five have completely disappeared.
Locals have witnessed the rapid disappearance of islands that were once used for picnics and fishing.
The loss of islands is not just environmental; it also affects the cultural and livelihood assets of the people.
Rising sea levels are causing the loss of homes and threatening the very existence of some villages.
The human impact of climate change is evident in the Solomon Islands, with people facing the loss of their homes and livelihoods.
Wildlife, such as the Hawksbill turtle, is also threatened by the loss of nesting beaches due to sea level rise.
The Anua Island group, a national park, is seeing a dramatic reduction in beach size, affecting turtle nesting grounds.
The Solomon Islands serve as a natural laboratory for understanding the impacts of climate change on islands.
The people of the Solomon Islands are resilient and strong, despite the imminent threat of losing their homes.
The situation in the Solomon Islands is a call to action for the global community to address climate change.
Dr. Simon Albert emphasizes the need for global leadership and action to combat the effects of climate change.
Transcripts
the north western end of the Solomon
Islands is one of the most stunning and
remote parts of the Pacific Ocean but
its isolation offers little protection
the world is catching up with this place
very fast and in effect drowning it you
think the whole island will eventually
disappear yeah this iron will be
disappear climate change is not an
abstract notion for these islands these
houses are really falling into the ocean
aren't they yeah yeah these are swirling
falling to the ocean or the people who
call them home
whilst the global average sea level rise
rates are running at about
three-and-a-half millimeters a year here
in the Solomons the last two decades
have seen three times that rate so
between seven and ten millimeters a year
so this is way above the world average
that's right it gives us a unique
opportunity to provide this sort of
looking glass into the future of how we
expect the rest of the world to
experience sea level rise rates towards
the end of this century 39 year old dr.
Simon Talbot first came to the Solomon
Islands as a young PhD student from the
University of Queensland to study the
impact of logging runoff on coral reefs
then he started to hear stories of
islands that had simply vanished off the
map an elderly gentleman on the boat
with us he started explaining that there
were these these islands that he used to
camp on as a as a child and we'll just
out middle the ocean looking at a at a
coral reef with with no island in sight
[Music]
the battle for Guadalcanal in the heart
of the Solomon Islands was a critical
turning point in world war two for the
Allies we surprised the jam and the
landings were easy
Simon learnt there was an archive of
thousands of wartime surveillance photos
in the present-day capital of Honiara
and decided to investigate where they
kept well were they all catalogued
no archive is a very generous term I
mean this is we're talking about a room
which is fundamentally a dumping ground
of old moldy rat eating photographs in
no particular order so it's a enormous
job to start sifting through those
systematically and trying to put those
trends together Simon focused his
research on a group of islands in the
northwest of the Solomons just off Santa
Isabel
it's where we're motoring now towards
the island of sodor mo or what's left of
it
landable once on an island here now
we're driving a boat across it it's just
mind-blowing really and it wasn't for
that old imagery we would have no idea
that this in fact was quite intact
stable Island
by matching the old against the new
Simon was able to illustrate just how
much of this island is now underwater so
where we are here now Liam was an intact
island back in 2002 and since then half
of the island has been been lost to sea
level rise so it's only taken the last
16 in a bit years yeah that's right but
in fact these trees are quite ancient
trees we've dated them to at least 250
years old so these aren't just you know
small little shrubs that have come and
gone these are large stable trees that
occupied this this once
enormous island so it's not part of a
cycle or a trend no this is a very
distinct shift in what was a reasonably
stable baseline to a really sudden over
the last 20 years a sudden lawsuit of
the island the size of this tree yeah so
the mo Island has lost over 110,000
square metres in just two decades it's
not your average sort of palm tree
falling into the ocean that's right and
it's these these ancient massive trees
that provide that foundation that's
strength to really hold onto the islands
and stabilize the the island so once
these go it really makes the island a
lot more vulnerable to loss
[Music]
hard to believe but as recently as 20
years ago I would been walking in the
middle of this islands rainforest this
beautiful old cash arena was well and
truly in the heart of it as you can see
now sadly the ocean is lapping at its
roots and it will be most certainly the
next to go under it's the same story at
the nearby hitter hitter Island
where we're walking now this was island
in fact we had our lunch here about 18
months ago the shade of these these
trees that you can see around you so
it's quite dramatic 18 months ago
yeah it's lost about half its size in
the last couple of decades the high tide
broke through the island about here and
once that tidal motion could move
through it just slowly worked its way
from both sides and took out the rest of
the island
[Music]
in the past 20 years sea levels in the
Solomon Islands have risen over 15
centimeters partly through climate
change and partly because of trade winds
physically pushing water into this part
of the Pacific and these are the rates
that the entire globe is predicted to
experience over the next century so
what's happening here in the Solomons is
supposedly what's going out into the
rest of the world in the next 150 years
here was more than supposably now
unfortunately we've got irrefutable
evidence that the next hundred years is
going to see pushing towards a meter of
sea level rise globally what about
climate change deniers who most say to
you look hang on a minute this is just
all part of the natural cycle Islands
come and go sand shifts these things
happen that's certainly the case I mean
islands do come and go you know we see
small sandy K's that will you know
develop some very low-lying vegetation
for a few years and get washed away by
the next storm that's not what we're
talking about here these are large
islands that have been on these these
reef platforms for at least the last few
hundred years and the rates of change
we've seen over the last 20 years are
unprecedented in that history
of the 33 islands that Simon has studied
in the northern sector of the Solomons
six have shrunk by up to half their size
and five have disappeared altogether so
this is colleague Holly Island this is a
photo that I took in 2009 like this
pretty Island called Karli yeah it's one
of our favorite little islands for
picnics and fishing go out with my
family and just relax for the day Glarus
Hibou has just graduated from Monash
University with a pharmacy degree but
she grew up in this village called Kea
Carley Island was her family's
playground a short boat ride away have
you got any photos more recently yeah so
this is a photo I took in on 2014
exactly five years later
yeah just one day we decided to go for a
picnic and it's no longer there so yeah
it seems quite shocking that's how
quickly things are changing in this part
of the world
what has stood the test of time for
centuries has now been wiped off the map
so here we are where's the island gone
well unfortunately this is the endgame
you know the the wave energy and the sea
level rise has really just pushed this
island slowly off this deep edge and
it's been lost lost completely it's hard
to believe that Gladys and her family
had a barbecue on us every Christmas up
to 2012 these islands represent a lot
more than just a beautiful white sandy
beach and coconut palms you know these
are places that these local people use
on a daily basis for for family picnics
but also for fishing for feeding their
feeding their broader family so they're
critical to their their livelihood so
the the loss of these islands is the
loss of a cultural asset and a
livelihood asset for these people coming
up these are people that aren't asking a
lot of planet Earth
when waterfront real estate there's been
dozens of houses lost here to sea-level
rise is a life threatening curse the
beach near where each was over here so
here saving the Solomons how long has it
taken for this house to almost disappear
one year and the world has become so
political and so divisive and we need to
move beyond that we're smart enough
that's next on 60 minutes we're
traveling through rate a mile a passage
which is a very remote passage on the
western end of Isabel here in the
Solomons in one of the remotest parts
the western Pacific and this this place
is a there's a natural laboratory to try
and understand these climate pressures
on islands both in terms of sea level
rise but also the resilience and the
strength of the ecosystem
[Music]
it feels like we're in an inlet you have
to keep reminding yourself we're
actually in the ocean here we've got
2,000 kilometers of open ocean in that
direction and we're about to pop out
into the into the Solomon sea dr. Simon
Albert has devoted much of his
scientific career to the Solomon Islands
and its people this is a really pristine
part of the world it's a privilege to be
able to work and then and be here he's
taking me out to what the locals call
the seaweed islands on a beautiful day
such as this it's hard to fathom the
disturbing reality here these people are
on the frontline land and we talk a lot
about the impacts of sea level rise on
islands vegetation and environment but
the human element to it is so critical
and these people are literally facing it
on a day-to-day basis
[Music]
vegetation is one thing but when you see
that homes actually falling into the
ocean it's it's something else there's
been dozens of houses lost here to
sea-level rise just in the last 10 years
really and and that causes an enormous
impact on these people's livelihoods
this is Beniamino part of the seaweed
islands the most vulnerable of the
Solomons archipelago there's almost 200
men women and children who call this
tiny plot of land home and for them
climate change is not an academic debate
for a dinner party discussion it's the
reality of seeing their homes and
livelihoods washed away and the bleak
prospect of an uncertain future at best
this house is the next to go yes yeah
this house is next to go
this meant only sauce already go to the
village he's had to leave yeah have to
live been katoa lives here with his wife
and small son like everyone by scratch
out a meager existence selling dried
seaweed for about 70 cents a kilo he's
lived here six years but questions how
much longer they can last as I was
feeling falling to the ocean and where
was the beach before whereabouts what's
the sand sorry yeah yeah just before
this house the beach there when each was
over here it's over here down there and
how long is it taken for the beach to
come back here for this house to to
almost disappear one year waterfront
real estate has a whole new meaning out
here
rising sea levels make survival more
precarious by the day the fact is this
village is one cyclone away from
oblivion living with such uncertainty is
the awful reality for women like Jean
Taraka and Natalie Andrew I feel very
sorry about my islands getting small I
don't know where where I'm gonna moving
ladies you tell me I mean what's the
what's the future we don't who don't
think we have future but we just fight
for our own life we don't know what is
the future you don't think there is a
future Jane I'm king of the real future
that's that isn't it do you mean by that
you think the whole island will
eventually disappear yeah without doing
anything this island will be disappeared
and this has been your heart yes I don't
know where to move
[Music]
these are people that aren't asking a
lot of planet Earth you know they've got
a fairly small footprint on our planet
they're not asking much when we see
these people hanging onto sand and trees
and shrubs it makes what we have
insignificant doesn't it yeah it makes
our problems insignificant I'm
constantly in order of these people that
that they're not jumping up and down and
whinging and and being victims they're
they're strong proud people that have
lived here for thousands of years
of course it's not just people and
islands at risk from rising sea levels
it's also the wildlife ironically the
future of a marine creature such as the
Hawksbill turtle is in jeopardy too
because the beaches they nest in are
being washed away we talked to the
elders here and they estimate the
beaches were we're up to 100 metres wide
through the the 60s 70s and into the 80s
100 metres that's that's what led to
this area being such a critical you know
it's one of the major Hawksbill
rookeries in the western Pacific because
of those wide beaches Simon this is
hardly a hundred meters that's right
we've seen this quite dramatic recession
down to the beach size of you know more
in the order of ten to fifteen meters
now so obviously the real estate the
habitat available for these Turtles has
decreased dramatically
the nearby an of an island group is the
first and indeed only National Park in
the Solomon Islands
Simon Albert has been working here
documenting the beach loss with Park
Rangers like Frances root owners before
it was a sanctuary his people used to
hunt the turtles here now he's their
number one protector and it's important
for the rest of the world too isn't it
for preserving species like the turtle
yeah I really want all their world - I
do know that the turtle is very
important for us to buffer it yes so
you'll say your success is our success
yeah and as we all know that Hanan is
one of the nesting ground for all
settled so it's a setting for for the
animal nesting beaches gone
[Music]
of the 33 islands Simon has studied 1/3
have either partially sunk or
disappeared altogether
he says if we continue to ignore this
disturbing trend then it's not just the
Solomons but the whole world that's in
deep water we need to start to take
these climate pressures seriously it's
become so political and so divisive and
we need to move beyond that you know
we're smarter than that you know as
Australians as global citizens we've
we've got a great proud history of of
you know taking leadership in in these
issues and and for a range of reasons
climate change has really led us into a
vicious cycle of blame and trying to
pass the buck well when you hear in the
Solomons on an island that's
disappearing you can't pass the buck
very well can you yeah these people
they've gotten home to pass it to so I
think there's a little bit more we can
do to try and help not only these people
but eventually ourselves
[Music]
hello I'm Liam bartlett thanks for
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