What will happen to the Marshall Islands?

SYDNEY, October 29, 2021 – Rising sea levels in the atoll nation of Marshall Islands are projected to endanger 40 percent of existing buildings in the capital, Majuro, with 96 percent of the city at risk of frequent flooding induced by climate change, according to a new World Bank study.



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As part of our research on climate justice, we visited the Marshall Islands and interviewed leaders and community organizers in 2018 and 2019. We learned that large-scale adaptation measures that could save both these and other islands are still possible, and that Marshallese leaders are committed to adapting in place.

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At first glance, the aquamarine waters that surround the Marshall Islands seem like paradise. But this idyllic Pacific scene hides a dark secret: it was the location of 67 nuclear detonations as part of US military tests during the cold war between 1946 and 1958.

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Uninhabited atolls/islands The remaining 11 atolls/islands are currently uninhabited.

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The Marshall Islands face a high risk of cyclones, and the low-lying islands are susceptible to coastal floods and tsunamis. Extreme heat and drought conditions have also recently affected the islands.

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