The Maldives islands made environmental news headlines once more on October 8th when it emerged that the President would be holding an underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the potential impact of climate change on the area.  In advance of this, President Mohammed Nasheed has requested that ministers learn both how to scuba dive and how to communicate underwater. 

This unprecedented meeting will take place on October 17th at a depth of approximately six metres below the surface.  Its timing comes as the world prepares to meet in Denmark in less than two months time to forge a new global climate change deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Maldives Underwater Meeting

The purpose of the Maldives underwater meeting is to “send a message to the world”, according to presidential official Aminath Shauna.  “The intention is to draw the attention of the world leaders to the issue of global warming and highlight how serious are the threats faced by Maldives as a result”, she continued.

“If we can stop climate change, the lowest-lying nation on earth will be saved.”

President Nasheed was elected to power in 2008.  Since that time, he has highlighted the Maldives’ potential position in terms of the environment on numerous occasions.  In March 2009, he declared that the Maldives would be the first nation to become entirely carbon-neutral.  More recently, details emerged concerning a new green tourist tax while, last month, an innovative new coconut biochar carbon capture plan was unveiled. 

The President himself is said to be a certified diver.  During the underwater meeting, he and his colleagues propose to sign a document urging for CO2 emissions reductions on an international scale.

Maldives Climate Change

For the Maldives, climate change is expected to be particularly troublesome.  The islands that make up the Maldives sit about seven feet above the sea, on average. 

This being the case, the area is especially susceptible to rising tides – one of the events that scientists expect to happen as climate change impacts on the planet.  In fact, no other nation lies so close to the waves.