Global Response to Climate Change - Essay Example

The rise in sea levels will and has had immediate impacts on coastal communities. London and New Orleans already have storm surge defense mechanisms in place as a national requirement. The displacement of communities and reduction in landmass will have dire consequences on the world’s resources. Coastal erosion, flooding, water quality, loss of life, and cultural resources and values are all expected to be implicated as a result of this effect of climate change.

The Maldives is currently under pressure. President Nasheed of the Maldives islands stated recently that the nation-state was looking for new land to purchase due to the effects of rising sea levels. The nation has the lowest land mass above sea level and it is estimated that unless climate change is controlled the nation will be underwater by the end of this century (O'Carroll, 2008).

New York metropolitan area is a coastal community so a dramatic raises in sea levels will bare negative consequences. The GE community in Hungary has developed an animation to show the effects of sea level rises and shows a timeline for the continuation of rises and the submerging of the area. The animation is available from: http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2007/04/animation_roundup_ri.html.