Maldives plans to become first carbon-neutral nation

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MALE: The Maldives, which is threatened by rising sea level as a result of global warming, is planning to become the world’s first carbon-neutral country.

The President of the Island country, Mohammed Nasheed, will reveal details of a plan to achieve full carbon neutrality within 10 years on Sunday, the Independent reported.

Maldives will join a small group of nations racing to be first, in what environmentalists have described as “the Carbon World Cup.”

Other countries planning to become carbon neutral are - Costa Rica, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand and Monaco. The five nations have signed up to a UN-backed plan to become zero net emitters, but none intend to achieve carbon neutrality as quickly as the Maldives.

Earlier, Ahmed Shafeeq Ibrahim Moosa was appointed as country’s new science and technology envoy.

“Ten years - that’s the target. We’re going to be looking at solar, wind and waves and working out the best system for us. There will have to be a lot of education. People need to know everyone can do their bit. The Maldives is a small country with only 300,000 people. It will be achievable,” Moosa, the former political activist and journalist said.

Local environmentalists welcomed the plan, which requires individual resorts to use solar panels to generate electricity, and sea water for air-conditioning.

“This is the sort of thing international donors are very interested in,” Ali Rilwan, founder of Bluepeace, said.

Nasheed, who is the first democratically elected president of the environmentally challenged country, has made the environment a priority. He announced plans for a fund to buy an alternative homeland, perhaps in India or Sri Lanka.

The country has spent thirty million pounds on a three-metre-high flood defense wall around the capital, Male, but 80% of the islands are just one metre above sea level or less.