Maldives

The Maldives, an archipelago of more than 1,000 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, is a tropical paradise for tourists seeking sun, sand and sea. But the country is also one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with rising sea levels and increasingly severe weather threatening its very existence. The Maldives is one of the lowest-lying countries in the world, and its highest point is just two metres above sea level. This makes it extremely vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise, which is already happening as a result of climate change. In 2009, the government of the Maldives announced its intention to buy land in India as a contingency plan in case the country is uninhabitable due to rising sea levels. And in 2014, the Maldives became the first country to sign a contract with a private company to build an insurance policy against the impacts of climate change. The Maldives is also facing the threat of more extreme weather, as a result of climate change. In the past, the country has been hit by tropical cyclones, and in 2007 a devastating tsunami caused widespread damage. With its very existence at risk, the Maldives is working hard to combat climate change. The country has pledged to become carbon-neutral by 2019, and is investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. It is also working to raise awareness of the issue, both at home and abroad. The Maldives may be a small country, but it is playing a big role in the fight against climate change.