Natural resources, energy and environment
The Marshall Islands' natural riches are
mainly found in the sea, such as fish, seafood and
seagrass. High-grade phosphate, which is used in both
industry and agriculture (fertilizers), is extracted in
the country.
Energy consumption is covered by imported oil. The
government aims to replace the expensive oil imports
with solar power. The goal is for 20 percent of energy
consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020.
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COUNTRYAAH:
Major exports by Marshall Islands with a full list of the top products exported by the country. Includes trade value in U.S. dollars and the percentage for each product category.
Because the country's highest point reaches only ten
meters above sea level, the Marshall Islands are at risk
of being submerged as seawater levels rise due to
climate change. In 1989, a UN report was published
warning that global warming could cause seawater levels
to rise 3.7 meters by 2030. This would mean that
basically the whole country ended up underwater. In
2002, the UN Climate Panel (IPCC) predicted that 80
percent of the capital city Majuro would be submerged
during the current century (2000s).
In 2011, the Marshallese government identified
climate change as "by far the biggest threat" to the
nation. Together with other low-lying island nations in
Oceania, the Marshall Islands in the UN context have
demanded a legally binding climate agreement. One of
these was pushed through at the end of 2015 at the COP21
climate meeting in Paris. It is a so-called framework
agreement that will guide climate work for the world's
countries for a long time to come. In July of the same
year, the Marshallese government announced plans to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the country by 32
percent of 2010 levels by 2025 and by 45 percent of 2010
levels by 2030.
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Abbreviationfinder: A popular acronym site in the world covering abbreviation for each country. For example, MH stands for Marshall Islands.
Partly as a result of rising seawater levels, the
Marshall Islands are subject to erosion (land
destruction) that damages roads, runways for aviation
and other infrastructure. The soil destruction is also
caused by storms, heavy rain and other bad weather.
A third environmental problem is the remnants of
radioactive fallout from US nuclear weapons explosions
over the atolls during the 1940s and 1950s (see Modern
History).
Periodically, the Marshall Islands are affected by
severe drought, with a water shortage as a result. The
greatest risk is in the north where it rains less,
especially during the period December to April. 90
percent of the fresh water in the country comes from
rain.
FACTS - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Energy use per person
614 kilos of oil equivalent (2007)
Carbon dioxide emissions in total
103,000 tonnes (2014)
Carbon dioxide emissions per inhabitant
1.9 tons (2014)
The share of energy from renewable sources
11.2 percent (2015)
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