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Impact of Climate
Change
in the Maldives
Scotland and Climate Change - Getting it Right
In the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament
Friday, 27 March 2009
The Maldives
•
Population: 385,000 (2008 est.)
•
1,190 islands – 197 inhabited
•
Area: 298 sq. km ( > 99% sea)
•
Tourism & Fishery main industries
•
GDP per capita - approx. US$ 3000
Capital Male’
•
Capital Male’
•
Area: 2 sq. km
•
Population: 120,000
•
Majority of islands
have less than 2,000
•
Industrial and
financial hub
•
Protected by seawall
Critical Issues
• Average elevation 1.5 m
above sea level
• Flooding reported in many
islands
• Coastal / beach erosion
IPCC projects sea level rise of up to 0.88m by
2100
Maldives could be wiped out as a result
• Fresh water shortages
• Maldives contributes less
than 0.001% to GHG
Coral bleaching as a result of rising temperatures
Flooding reported commonly
Severe beach erosion observed in islands
Maldives ‘Climate Change’ Strategy
Capacity
developme
nt
Technolog
y transfer
Funding
Driving forward
international
agreements on
climate change
Mitigation
Actions in the
Maldives
(e.g. carbon
neutral)
Adaptation
Actions in the
Maldives
(e.g. coastal
protection).
Maldives ‘Climate
Change’ Strategy
•
The President announced that the
Maldives would be Carbon Neutral
within 10 years
•
On going focus on driving forward
international commitments
•
National Adaptation Programme of
Action (NAPA)
•
Introducing renewable energy to
the Maldives
•
Cooperate with international
research organisations
(make the Maldives a hub for
research in related areas)
Summary
•
Climate Change is a real threat to
the very existence of the Maldives
•
The Maldives needs international
support and calls for global actions
to combat Climate Change
•
International agreements and coordinated actions essential in the
build up to the Copenhagen
Summit in December 2009
•
The Maldives aims to lead by
example (carbon neutral within the
next 10 years)
Together we can save the
world.
Thank You!
Presented by
Mr. Ahmed Moosa
Envoy for Science and Technology
Government of the Maldives