Bahamas: Environmental Challenges

The Bahamas is an archipelago of nearly 700 islands and cays built on limestone and the remains of ancient coral reefs, with extensive flatland that leaves most of the country only a few meters above sea level. Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island, is the nation's highest point at just 63 meters (206 feet). The islands have no rivers, and residents depend on rainfall and groundwater rather than surface water systems, though Andros Island holds unusually abundant natural freshwater reserves.

This low elevation leaves the country acutely exposed to climate-related hazards. An estimated 80 percent of Bahamian land lies below 10 meters in elevation, making coastal communities vulnerable to storm surge and long-term sea level rise. Hurricanes pose the most immediate threat: Hurricane Dorian struck the northwestern Bahamas at Category 5 strength in September 2019, with sustained winds near 185 miles per hour, killing more than 50 people and causing an estimated $7 billion in damage to Grand Bahama and Great Abaco. Average temperatures in the Bahamas have risen by roughly half a degree Celsius since 1960.

Despite these pressures, forest cover has remained relatively stable at roughly 51 percent of total land area. Because the Bahamian economy depends heavily on tourism tied to its beaches and reefs, the government has pursued climate adaptation planning, including renewable-energy targets and coastal resilience measures developed with regional and international partners.