| Paper | GS Paper 2 |
| Word Limit | 150 words |
| Syllabus Topic | International Relations – Global Issues and International Fora (Climate Change) |
Model Answer
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) emit very little but face the greatest climate risk. As per IPCC AR6, global sea level rose about 0.20 m between 1901 and 2018.
Sea level rise threatens land, water, livelihood and statehood
Threats to Existence
- Loss of land: Atolls like Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Maldives lie barely a metre or two above sea level.
- Freshwater crisis: Saltwater intrusion spoils groundwater and farmland.
- Coral bleaching hurts fisheries and tourism.
- Stronger cyclones, e.g., Cyclone Pam (2015) in Vanuatu.
- Statehood: Sinking land raises questions on sovereignty and EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) rights.
Responses
- Kiribati bought land in Fiji (2014) for food security.
- Falepili Union Treaty (2023): Australia offers Tuvalu citizens a migration pathway.
- Vanuatu led the push for the ICJ advisory opinion (2025) on climate duties of states.
- India backs IRIS (Infrastructure for Resilient Island States) under CDRI.
Conclusion
Island nations are the front line of climate justice. Deep emission cuts, adaptation finance and global solidarity can keep them afloat.
Related PYQs
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? (2023)
- ‘Clean energy is the order of the day.’ Describe briefly India’s changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics. (2022)
- “With the waning of globalization, post-Cold War world is becoming a site of sovereign nationalism.” Elucidate. (2025)
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