Ready for the island? But sustainable, please – because they are in danger of disappearing!

The island – a dropout’s place of longing. At least that’s how the often-quoted phrase “I’m ready for the island”, sung by Peter Cornelius in his 1981 hit, came about. Islands fascinate us. Far away from everything. Needing to cross the sea for anyone to reach you. Ideal for getting away from daily stress and responsibilities.

However, sea levels are rising and many island paradises are likely to disappear in the coming decades. All the more reason why we as travelers shouldn’t rush to plan our next island getaway before it’s no longer possible. Instead, now is the time to take a hard look at what island vacations mean to our planet and how we can make them sustainable.

Islands in peril: sea level rise and climate change

The latest report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) focuses extensively on rising sea levels . It is caused by melting glaciers as a result of rising temperatures. Sea levels are already higher than they were in pre-industrial times. So, the question is not if, but how much the seas will rise?

According to the ICPP report: “GMSL will rise between 0.43 m (0.29–0.59 m) and 0.84 m (0.61–1.10 m) by 2100”. However, experts also acknowledge that uncertainties in climate change-induced sea level rise increase significantly after 2050 due to uncertainties in emission scenarios. Studies show that a GMSL of 2m by 2100 cannot be ruled out.

The Maldives and Other Endangered Islands

Male, the capital of the Maldives, is only 2.40 meters above sea level.

The Maldives is the lowest country in the world. It consists of 26 atolls and over 1,000 coral islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. According to Planet Wissen, their highest elevation is only 2.40 meters. If the sea level rises by 2 meters, the descendants of today’s Maldivians will have no land to live on.

But water levels are not the only climate-related issue facing the Maldives:

• Storms and storm surges, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change, could flood the island.
• Both storm surges and sea level rise are salinizing underground freshwater resources (groundwater in freshwater lenses), causing drinking water supplies to collapse.

Tourism in the Maldives – Helping or adding to the problems?

Tourists produce waste, and the buildings created for them often have a strong impact on nature. For example, in the name of “landscaping,” some islands are altered to better suit the hotel complex. Sand is piled up and reefs are dredged. The long-term impact on the local ecosystem (ocean currents, flora and fauna) is often unclear or ignored in such projects

Nevertheless, tourism is vital to the Maldives as it is the main source of income. According to GIZ, the Maldives derives 90% of its tax and customs revenue from tourism.

Sustainable tourism in Gilli Lankanfushi

To ensure that tourism not only benefits the economy but also preserves nature, we believe it is essential to focus on sustainable tourism. Fortunately, more and more players in the industry see it that way – including those in the Maldives. We are pleased to introduce you to Gili Lankanfushi Resort, a sustainable Green Pearls® partner in the Maldives.

The eco-luxury resort consists of 45 waterfront villas and is committed to protecting the environment in many ways. These efforts include eliminating plastic wherever possible, conserving water and energy, and sourcing local food. Gili Lankanfushi is also committed to its Maldivian employees (training and bus service) and the local school.

The island-saving importance of coral reefs

One hope for islands like the Maldives are their coral reefs. These reefs have the ability to grow with a slight rise in sea level. Furthermore, they act as breakwaters. The 2004 tsunami showed that where intact reefs and mangrove belts were present as a protective barrier, the devastation of the tidal wave was least severe.

But the coral reefs themselves are at risk

Their enemies include:

• Overfishing
• Pollution
• Global warming

You may have heard of coral bleaching. This phenomenon occurs when corals lose their color because they repel the different colored algae with which they actually form a community. It occurs when water temperatures get too high. Bleached corals do not necessarily die but are capable of regenerating when their environment returns to normal. Scientific research has shown this in the Great Barrier Reef (Australia). However, if the elevated water temperature persists, the corals will die.

Speaking to Geo, coral researcher Professor Christian Voolstra says that global warming of 1.5C could kill around 70-90% of reefs.

However, there is hope that corals may be able to adapt to higher temperatures. Currently, coral reefs have at least the strength to regenerate after being destroyed.

Corals on Ko Phi Phi Leh recovered from mass tourism

90% of the coral off the Thai island of Ko Phi Phi Leh were damaged in 2018. Not because of climate change, but because of us tourists. The trigger was the Hollywood movie “The Beach”, in which the dropout Richard (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) finds his paradise – in “Maya Bay” on Ko Phi Phi Leh. As a result, the bay was closed to visitors in 2018. And after only 4 years (2022) many corals had recovered and reef sharks had returned.

Zeavola Resort on Ko Phi Phi Leh supports reef development

Ko Phi Phi Leh is about an hour’s speedboat ride from Phuket and is indeed a dreamy mix of fine white sand, tropical vegetation and turquoise waters. Our partner, Zeavola Resort, is committed to sustainable tourism and coral reef conservation.

Over 10,000 coral fragments have already been replanted by Zeavola. In addition, the staff regularly cleans the beach and reefs of marine debris. The luxurious resort offers PADI scuba diving courses and the opportunity to experience the underwater world of the coral reefs for yourself. Trained divers (as opposed to party tourists) are generally not a threat to the reefs, but rather those who are committed to protecting nature.

Is Phuket still an island?

Some time ago we had a lively discussion in our team about whether Phuket is still an island when there are two car bridges connecting it to the mainland. Our final verdict: Yes, Phuket is still an island because the land is surrounded by sea – a car bridge doesn’t count! (Or do you disagree?)

Sustainable holiday at Keemala in Phuket.

The fact that islands are completely surrounded by water means that they are often more difficult to supply and many products have to be imported. Keemala “Villa Wonderland” in Phuket has created a large self-catering garden with fruits, vegetables, and herbs for the hotel kitchen. The resort’s cooking classes include a tour of the Thai plants. In addition, Keemala is part of the zero-waste movement and does not use single-use plastics throughout the resort.

Canary Islands – Europe in front of Africa

The Canary Islands are politically part of Spain and geographically part of Africa – they lie off the west coast of Africa. The islands have a mild and warm climate, beautiful beaches with bizarre rock formations, and a unique flora and fauna with many endemic plants and animals (which you can only find here). These include the Canary Island striped gecko.

There are 8 Canary Islands:

• Teneriffa
• Gran Canaria
• Fuerteventura
• Lanzarote
• La Palma
• La Gomera
• El Hierro
• La Graciosa (seit 2018)

It is impossible to say which one is “the most beautiful”. They each have their own charm!

How climate change threatens the Canary Islands

In 2023, the Ministry of the Environment of the Canary Islands called for a forward-looking policy. The Teide National Park in Tenerife already shows signs of the consequences of climate change.

Speaking at the 2023 Environment Forum in Gran Canaria, Environment Minister José Antonio Valbuena warned of the following developments due to climate change:

• In general, there will be less rain in the Canary Islands …
• … and when it does, the rainfall will be so heavy that flooding can occur.
• The level of the groundwater will drop.
• The Canary Islands will lose their green.
• About 50% of today’s beaches could be swallowed by the sea in the near future.

Water and climate projects of Casa León Royal Retreat in Gran Canaria

Fresh water is already scarce in the Canary Islands. Gran Canaria’s climate is also dry and there are no rivers or lakes. “Getting water is a vital problem,” reports Green PearlsⓇ Hotel Casa León Royal Retreat. The small 25-room boutique hotel is located in the interior of Gran Canaria.

A 10,000-square-foot garden has been planted on the property with native, drought-resistant plants such as cacti, which naturally require little water. In addition, there is a rainwater harvesting system and a water treatment plant for potable water. Small signs in the bathrooms remind guests to conserve water and not to wash towels unnecessarily. In a further commitment to the global climate, the owner family has leased 40,000 hectares of forest in the Balkans.

Sustainable vacation at the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife

On the Canary Island of Tenerife, the operators of the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel are also committed to sustainability. The hotel uses filtered gray water from a local initiative to irrigate the grounds and flush the toilets. Local products are available, and for each guest who books through the Océano website, a tree is planted through the mountain forest project partner.

Getting to Sicily by train

You don’t have to fly to the Italian island of Sicily. There is – get this – a train service to the island! The train rolls at Villa San Giovanni on a ferry and goes in Messina in Sicily back on the rail! However, public transportation on the island is very poorly developed. Most vacationers therefore rent a car locally. There is definitely a lot of work to be done in terms of transport sustainability.

Our partner, the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA on the protected natural beach, is committed to sustainability. For an authentic experience of Sicily, the resort offers a “Village Experience”. You will visit the picturesque village of Catabellotta and learn about its thousand-year history. As a special, you have a tasting of the local Biancolilla olives and lunch at the home of a local family.

Tips for a sustainable island getaway

To conclude, let’s summarize how you can sustainably travel to the islands and what you can do to protect them:

1. If you cannot avoid flying, plan a longer stay to make the trip worthwhile and the country benefits from your vacation.
2. Offset the flight through Climate Partners
3. Avoid flights and travel by train instead
4. Book sustainable accommodations.
5. Avoid single-use plastics wherever possible and reduce waste.
6. Participate in local beach clean-ups or ocean clean-ups. Experienced divers can also clean coral from marine debris as part of a project.
7. Conserve water, e.g. when taking a shower and by not having your room cleaned every day and not changing your towels all the time.
8. Do not take sand as a souvenir.

Can you think of other measures? Let us know in the comments. And at the end, let’s sing together: “I’m ready to protect the islands!” 🙂

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