Presenter: Madeline Culhane
Journalism
Oral Presentation
The Maldives is a nation composed of a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean known for its tourism industry and white sand beaches. But it is also a modern example of a nation that must grapple with the immediate effects of climate change, as their homeland is being threatened by rising sea levels that may entirely swallow the entire country. Higher ocean temperatures in the late 1990s heavily dam- aged a lot of the coral reef surrounding and protecting the islands. Former President Nasheed has rallied the rest of the world to join their endeavors in trying to get the Maldives to become carbon neutral as one way to counter the threats of climate change. Nasheed has introduced plans to use wind energy to provide power for everything from buildings to cars and boats as means to achieve this goal. Nasheed is also soliciting advice from other nations, asking for help and ideas, as well as solidarity, from other countries. However, the effects of years of pollution and human interaction from billions of people across the globe will present an incredibly steep challenge for the country of nearly 400,000 people. While addressing these issues is literally a matter of life and death for their homeland, the practical costs are high for a vulnerable and developing nation. The Maldives will serve as an example for the rest of the world in upcoming years, as a case study for the effects of climate change and how we as a world choose to deal with it.