The historian Suetonius wrote that, in 64 AD, Nero reveled in the beauty of the flames that he had set upon the capital of his empire. And in the destruction of his city, Nero sealed his own fate \u2013 brought down by his own extravagance. As I think over the fate that hangs over the Maldives, a small island state with a population the size of New Orleans, the Classicist in me is forcefully reminded of this turbulent time in Roman history.<\/p>\n
While all of us see the effects of climate change \u2013 hotter summers, colder winters, stronger storms \u2013 no country is more affected than the Maldives. Its highest point is at just 2.4 meters (\u201cdolphins can leap higher\u201d[1]<\/a>) and with seas rising, it is likely that, by 2100, these beautiful atolls will exist no more, submerged into the ocean with its entire population of almost half a million evacuated.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n Making the Trumpian mistake of not believing this? 100 years ago, the Maldives highest point was 20cm higher.[3]<\/a> By the end of the 21st<\/sup> century, UN Climate Change panel believes sea levels will have risen a further 23 inches.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n Under the Maldives\u2019 former Obama-like President, Mohamed Nasheed, several gestures were made that caught world-wide attention, including an underwater cabinet meeting and passionate addresses to the UN.[5]<\/a>,[6]<\/a><\/sup> However, despite numerous references to being \u201cthe underwater Obama\u201d[7]<\/a>, he lacked his American doppelganger\u2019s power to make any meaningful impact on the real causes of the climate change that blight his country.<\/p>\n That said, the Maldives does its part at home, pledging to be first carbon neutral country by 2020,[8]<\/a> as well as sourcing 100% of its energy from renewable sources.[9]<\/a> In his enthusiastic zeal to legislate, Nasheed also established the \u2018Climate Change Trust Fund\u2019 that, with US$15mn support from the Australian government and the EU, will help will build a \u2018climate resilient economy\u2019 and support mitigation and adaption as climate change takes hold.[10]<\/a><\/p>\n However, even as the country sets its sights on achieving these noble goals of which we in the West should take note, the government has been forced to direct most of its action towards the very survival of its people and infrastructure.<\/p>\n The National Adaption Programme of Action[11]<\/a> looks to further the Maldives relocation of people at risk of losing their homes with the idea of \u2018population consolidation\u2019 \u2013 moving people from the 200 inhabited islands, in which they now live, to just ten.[12]<\/a> This may not be enough and there was talk (before the president was deposed) of setting up a sovereign wealth fund, which would draw on tourism revenues to enable to purchase of land abroad for future relocations, as well as a plea to Australia to help, should necessity arise.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not going to be enough. The Maldives are already sinking into the ocean \u2013 the 2004 tsunami saw 20 islands completely submerged \u2013 and its new government needs to ensure that it maintains the enthusiasm and evangelism of its past leader in fighting against climate change and protecting its people.<\/p>\n The country has no choice but to engage with partners to secure the reefs around the islands to provide natural defense barriers, as well as look for international help to build storm resilient houses. At the same time, the government must maintain a loud voice internationally and ensure that climate change remains top of the agenda across the world. It is at its peril that it chooses not to.<\/p>\n The Maldives serves as a warning to all of us. The Red Cross has said that climate change will cause greater population displacement than either war or persecution.[13]<\/a> Already we have seen the world\u2019s first \u2018environmental refugees\u2019[14]<\/a> and, while the Maldives may be first with 80% of its population living within 100 meters of water, more than 44% of the global population lives within 150km of sea[15]<\/a> and could see their property, livelihoods, futures destroyed.<\/p>\n So, as we turn our heads once more towards the beauty of the Indian Ocean and the jewel the world has given us, will we too fiddle? Will we too mock the destruction that we have created? Or will we play our part and put out the fire before it is too late to save ourselves. In former president, Nasheed\u2019s, words, \u201cIf we want to save the world, I suggest that saving the Maldives is a very good starting point.\u201d[16]<\/a> (727 words)<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> http:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/asia\/is-it-too-late-to-save-the-maldives-from-climate-change-and-islamic-extremism-9901424.html<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Charles W. Schmidt, 2005, pA608<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> http:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/asia\/is-it-too-late-to-save-the-maldives-from-climate-change-and-islamic-extremism-9901424.html<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> http:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/events\/tenstories\/08\/climatechange.shtml<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> http:\/\/www.vanityfair.com\/culture\/2010\/12\/mohamed-nasheed-201012<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> http:\/\/www.spiegel.de\/international\/world\/the-underwater-obama-maldives-president-leads-the-charge-against-climate-change-a-658373.html<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> http:\/\/www.spiegel.de\/international\/world\/the-underwater-obama-maldives-president-leads-the-charge-against-climate-change-a-658373.html<\/p>\n [8]<\/a> http:\/\/orbit.dtu.dk\/files\/96933631\/LCDS_report_final_June_2014.pdf<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> http:\/\/www.go100percent.org\/cms\/index.php?id=70&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=70<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> http:\/\/www.lse.ac.uk\/GranthamInstitute\/legislation\/countries\/maldives\/<\/p>\n [11]<\/a> http:\/\/unfccc.int\/resource\/docs\/napa\/mdv01.pdf<\/p>\n [12]<\/a> http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/geoj.12032\/full<\/p>\n [13]<\/a> \u201cClimate Refugees\u201d in Economic and Political Weekly<\/em>, Vol. 44, No 23, p 7<\/p>\n [14]<\/a> \u201cClimate Refugees\u201d in Economic and Political Weekly<\/em>, Vol. 44, No 23, p 7<\/p>\n