The effects of climate change, particularly sea level rise, in the Maldives

 

Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed opened a two-day 'Climate Vulnerable Forum' conference today calling on fellow vulnerable, developing countries to embrace a carbon neutral future. Robyn Gwynn, UK Climate Envoy for Vulnerable Countries, is blogging from the event. Read his Introductory blog and Day One blog.

 

In the Forum's keynote address, President Nasheed stressed the lack of progress being made in international climate change negotiations and called on poor, vulnerable countries to show 'moral leadership' by shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy.

 

Delegates at the Climate Vulnerable Forum include President Tong of Kiribati, as well as foreign and environment ministers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, and representatives from Barbados and Bhutan. China, Denmark, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, the UK and the United States are attending the Forum as observers.

 

'We are gathered here because we are the most vulnerable group of nations to climate change...To my mind, countries that have the foresight to green their economies today, will be the winners of tomorrow,' the President noted. 'A group of vulnerable, developing countries committed to carbon neutral development would send a loud message to the outside world,' Nasheed said.

 

Maldivian organisers of the Forum say the aim of the gathering is to amplify the voices of vulnerable, poor nations, with the hope the meeting will mean a better outcome at Copenhagen for vulnerable, developing nations. 'The countries represented in this room are diverse but they have one thing in common: their vulnerability to climate change,' Maldivian Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam said in his welcome address to the Forum.

 

In March this year, the Maldives announced plans to become the world's first carbon neutral nation. The carbon neutral plan includes proposals to switch from oil to 100% renewable energy production. Earlier this month, President Nasheed held the world's first underwater cabinet meeting, to raise awareness of the plight of the Maldives.

 

 

Vulnerable Countries at a Glance

 

The Maldives: A collection of 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean, 80% of the Maldives is no more than 1 metre above sea level. Scientists predict that rising sea levels could mean the Maldives become uninhabitable within the next century. Climate change is also contributing to more frequent and intense storm surges.

 

Tanzania: Droughts and floods will be more frequent and rainfall patterns will change. Since the country is dependent on agriculture, this will impact heavily on economic growth. Low rainfall has already led to power shortages from the country’s hydro-electric dams, while falling water levels in the Great Lakes are threatening fishing, and floods in recent years have left thousands homeless.

 

Kenya: Four major droughts have occurred in the last decade and, with temperatures set to rise by up to 5°C by 2100, more severe droughts are expected in coming decades. Poor rains in 2006 left 3.5 million people in need of food aid and in recent years food prices have shot up steeply. Floods will be more frequent and more severe due to wetter rainy seasons.

 

Ethiopia: Almost one-quarter of the population was affected by extreme hunger in 2002/03 due to severe droughts and around 4 million needed food aid this year due to failed harvests and high food prices. Uncertainty in rainfall patterns could undermine current food security strategies, leaving more people at risk of starvation.

 

Barbados: The Caribbean is one of the world's 'hot spots' for climate change impacts, and is at particular risk from floods and hurricanes. The 2007 and 2008 hurricane season left the region in need of humanitarian aid due to infrastructure damage and loss of livelihoods.

 

Vietnam: By 2100 temperatures are projected to rise by 4.8°C and sea levels by 70 centimetres, affecting agriculture and threatening livelihoods and infrastructure in coastal areas. The weather is expected to become increasingly dry over the next few decades and it has been suggested that rice production could halve by the end of this century.

 

Vanuatu: Like the Maldives Pacific islands such as Vanuatu will be vulnerable to rises in the sea level and to extreme weather events. The Pacific Ocean will also become more acidic, affecting marine life and the livelihoods of people dependent on fishing.

 

Costa Rica: Climate-related disasters have struck Latin America with greater frequency over recent decades. Temperature increases over this century will see, by 2020 to 2030, the melting of most tropical glaciers, putting people in coastal areas at severe risk. Meanwhile, drier conditions will reduce the availability of water, affect hydro-power and reduce farmland to desert.

 

Related links

Maldives opens Climate Vulnerable Forum with appeal for carbon neutrality, The President's Office - Republic of Maldives 09 November 2009

Maldives urges small states to go 'carbon neutral', Google 09 November 2009

Maldives anger at climate inertia, BBC News 09 November 2009

Climate Vulnerable Countries' Forum, Robin Gwynn UK Climate Envoy for Vulnerable Countries, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

In the same leaky boat on climate change, Guardian 09 November 2009