As an island, we need to be concerned with the effects of climate change on rising sea levels.
Scientific research shows that even a 2°C increase in temperature at the poles would melt enough ice to raise the sea level by 6 metres. Sea level rises will drastically alter the shape of the Maltese coastline, with the Northern and Harbour areas being hit especially hard, simulations of a 6m sea level rise show:
- Anything below the Valletta Bastions will be underwater
- Msida, and the Msida valley will both reflood
- Most of Ta’ Xbiex will be lost
- Half of Manoel Island will be under water.
- Gzira will resemble Venice
- Sliema and St. Julians will both be radically altered
- As will the three cities, the drydocks and parts of Marsa
- Marsascala will be transformed into a peninsula
- Marsaxlokk Bay will expand to include part of the town, the present harbour and some of the surrounding fields
- The industry around the South East will be hit hard – most of the freeport will be underwater
- Xemxija will be totally overrun, while the Salini Marshlands creep inward
- Half of St. Paul’s island will be lost.
- Ċirkewwa will be totally flooded, and Għadira will come close to splitting the main island in two…
- Comino will lose its blue lagoon, and both Santa Marija and San Niklaw bays will expand inwards.
