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March 23, 2012
“Global warming will destroy the Maldives. As President, the most important fight is the fight for our survival.”
The Republic of Maldive Islands in the Indian Ocean is the world’s lowest country. The average ground level of the Maldives is 1.5 meters (4 feet, 11 inches) above sea level, and the highest point of the 1,200 island country is only two meters (6.5 feet) above sea level. Over 80 percent of the Maldives are at their highest point only a meter (three feet) above sea level.
Climate change is affecting the Maldivian fisheries, eroding the shore lines and flooding many of the 1,200 islands. Beaches are eroding at an alarming rate, up to 300 feet of erosion can happen in a single monsoon tidal surge. A rise of three meters (ten feet) in ocean water levels would inundate the country. Not only is climate change affecting the shorelines of the Maldives, the gradual warming of the ocean is affecting the local fisheries. From 2005 – 2006, the fishing totals were very low, instead of averaging three and a half tons of fish a day, the local fishermen were only catching half a ton of fish a day. Each year the total amount of fish caught in the Maldives is dwindling, with 2009 being the worst year for fishing at the time of filming of the documentary. The Maldives are in a unique situation; an entire nation, culture, and national identity will be lost because of the effects of climate change. In October of 2009, President Nasheed held a cabinet meeting underwater to show what would happen to the country if the immediate mitigation of climate change impacts was not undertaken. Though former President Nasheed is no longer in office , his progressive stance on climate change mitigation was hailed as the leading voice for small island states that are already suffering from the effects of global warming. The Maldives are forced to spend less on health care and education to use the available funds on concrete for sea walls.
The former President Nasheed recommends that the Maldives invest in green energy, and the Maldives plan to be carbon neutral by 2019. “Maldives is a front line state. We can die knowing that we’ve done the right thing.” In 2009, President Nasheed traveled to the Copenhagen United Nations Conference of Parties Climate Change Panel (COP15) and pleaded on behalf of his country for the major emitters to produce enough green energy to keep the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide levels at 1.5 parts per million (ppm.) President Nasheed stressed that there has to be a deal that benefits and applies to both developing countries and developed countries. The Maldives have been around for the past 3,000 years. “We have a culture, a language, a shared history.” He said that “the Maldives will need to make concessions in the terms of [climate change] mitigation, but cannot make concessions in the terms of adaptation.”
The Copenhagen accord was the first time that China, India, and the United States all agreed to reduce carbon emissions. The Maldives, Samoa, Costanzia, Norway and Ethiopia all agreed to be carbon neutral. In 2009, the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide were at 387 ppm. Atmospheric levels have since risen to 390 ppm.
This film chronicles the introduction of democracy to the Maldives after decades of military dictatorship, Nasheed’s presidential election, and his subsequent decision to make climate change adaptation his number one priority in office. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute highly recommends that everyone see this film and share it with others!
In addition, take a look at this interview with Mohamed Nasheed and David Letterman.
Release Date: March 28, 2012 Website: http://theislandpresident.com Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/TheIslandPresident
*All quotes are by former President Nasheed, from the movie: The Island President
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