You C World

“Maldives is one of the small states. We are not in a position to change the course of events in the world. But what you do or do not do here will greatly influence the fate of my people. It can also change the course of world history."
Statement by President of Maldives,
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,
Kyoto - Japan,
As summer sets in, and the dry and hot weather makes us wilt, I can't help but think of the melting polar ice. Coming from a country which consists of some of the lowest lying islands of the world, and which has the constant fear of been erased from the face of the, this is not so surprising.

The archipelago nation of Maldives made up of 1,190 tiny islands - ranked 175th in the world for population (330,000) and 167th in terms of gross domestic product ($660 million) - is known to most of the world as a tourist destination. As its highest point is only 2.4 meters (7.8 feet) above the surface of the ocean, the Maldives is especially vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by global warming.

Developments in industrialised countries thousands of miles from the Maldives threaten the islands' existence. Global warming is a result of the increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (Co2) and other greenhouse gases. The primary cause of this is the overwhelming dependence of the world economy on fossil fuels. The pollution which causes global warming could result in rising seas capable of inundating these low-lying islands by the end of the 21st Century.