Sierra Leone’s Nyangai Island

Why in news: Nyangai Island in Sierra Leone's Turtle Islands archipelago is facing severe erosion and land loss due to rising sea levels, a direct consequence of climate change. Over the past decade, the island has lost two-thirds of its land, now measuring just 200m by 100m, with much of its population displaced.

 Key Highlights

• Climate Impact: Melting polar ice and rising global temperatures have caused the Atlantic Ocean to encroach, destroying homes, trees, and vital spaces like a football field and community areas.

• Human Toll:

  • Population dropped from 1,000 to under 300.

  • Residents have repeatedly lost homes and belongings.

  • Overcrowding, lack of potable water, no sanitation, electricity, or health care, worsen their plight.

• Environmental Devastation:

  • Palm trees uprooted, beaches eroded, and sandbags futilely try to slow the ocean’s advance.

  • Local flora like mango and coconut trees have disappeared.

• Global Injustice: The residents have contributed minimally to global emissions, yet are among the first in Sierra Leone to be climate-displaced.

• Lack of Support: Despite warnings and a 2024 disaster report that over 2 million along Sierra Leone’s coast are at risk, authorities have offered no concrete aid, only suggesting relocation.

🧠UPSC Mains enrichment

Nyangai Island symbolizes the disproportionate burden of climate change on vulnerable, low-emission communities.