| Climate change has recently become an increasingly | | | | Mr. Shyam Saran agreed that both Maldives and India |
| significant issue among both the people of Maldives | | | | could work together in combating climate change. |
| and the international community concerned with the | | | | Change of Climate Policies |
| fact that the Maldives will be one of the first nations | | | | Presenting several of the Indian government's policies |
| severely affected by the phenomenon. These | | | | on environment and climate change, the President |
| concerns led to change of climate being addressed | | | | was encouraged by their efforts and further |
| recently in a meeting held between the leader of | | | | stressed the importance of cooperation and support |
| Maldives, President Mohamed Nasheed, and the Indian | | | | between both countries in working against the |
| Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Climate Change, Mr. | | | | threats of climate change. President Nasheed also |
| Shyam Saran. | | | | praised the Indian government's policies to support |
| How is the change of climate affecting the Maldives | | | | new technological advancements in the field of |
| The Maldives, an island country made up of atolls | | | | renewable energy, believing that India and Indian |
| comprising a total of 1,192 islands, is known for being | | | | companies could be a leader in the field of renewable |
| the lowest country in the world, where the highest | | | | energy and environment-friendly technologies. |
| land is only 2.3 m (71/2 ft) above sea level, and the | | | | Adaptation was also a topic dwelled upon by the |
| national average is just 1.5 m above sea level. Over | | | | President and the Special envoy, and they discussed |
| the last century, global sea levels have risen about 20 | | | | that the aim adaptation should be to find ways of |
| centimetres (8 in) because of climate change and | | | | achieving better standards of living through |
| further rises of the ocean are predicted, which could | | | | sustainable development. Praising the Maldives and its |
| seriously threaten the existence of Maldives. In | | | | policies on adaptation, both parties found that both |
| November 2008, President Mohamed Nasheed | | | | countries possessed similar policies on the subject. As |
| expressed his concerns about global warming and the | | | | a final note, Special Envoy Saran added that India |
| possibility of many of the islands being inundated with | | | | was prepared to share its new |
| water from rising sea levels. | | | | environmentally-friendly and renewable energy |
| India also affected by climate change | | | | technologies with the Maldives. |
| Noting not only that the fate of both the Maldives | | | | The meeting was indeed a fruitful one, and it |
| and India are linked to change of climate, but also | | | | concluded with discussions of how to further |
| that any drastic change threatens the survival of | | | | strengthen the relations between the Maldives and |
| millions of people living in the coastal areas of said | | | | India, and agreeing on a policy of helping each other |
| countries, both President Nasheed and Special Envoy | | | | in the fight against climate change. |