Editors Note: One of the most persistent yet false climate change claims is that sea level rise will wipe out island nations such as The Maldives. Back in 2004 the BBC claimed they would soon be lost. Twenty one years later not only are they still there, they have a thriving tourist economy, proving that the sea level hype from the BBC and other media outlets is wildly wrong.
Guest Essay By Paul Homewood From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
What would we do without the internet? Here is what the BBC said in 2004:
For as well as being blessed with sun-kissed paradise islands and pale, white sands, this tourist haven is cursed with mounting evidence of an environmental catastrophe.
The country is portrayed by travel companies as a tropical paradise
To the naked eye, the signs of climate change are almost imperceptible, but government scientists fear the sea level is rising up to 0.9cm a year.
Since 80% of its 1,200 islands are no more than 1m above sea level, within 100 years the Maldives could become uninhabitable.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3930765.stm
That was 21 years ago.
Since then, twelve new airports have been opened on the Maldives, plus a new passenger terminal at the Velana International Airport.
Velana Int Airport
Tourists numbers have tripled to more than 2 million last year. Tourism now drives 28% of GDP, supported by more than 170 resorts. Last year alone, another seven new resorts were opened.
Far from disappearing beneath the waves, the Maldives are thriving!
