The president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, and his ministers will be holding the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting this week to draw the world’s attention to the pressing issue of climate change.
Famed for its first-rate diving, the Maldives is at risk of being submerged by rising sea levels by the end of the century if carbon pollution continues unabated.
To call attention to their country’s plight, ministers will use hand signals and slates to communicate to ratify a statement to be presented at the landmark UN climate change talks in Copenhagen this December.
“We call upon all citizens from all countries big and small, rich and poor, high and low, to join hands and reduce carbon emissions and bring down the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to below 350ppm,” the statement will read.
The underwater meeting is part of a wider campaign to urge world leaders assembling at Copenhagen to make drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to ensure the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide return to the safe threshold of 350ppm. Levels currently stand at 390ppm.
Ministers have been taking scuba diving lessons with help from Divers Association Maldives (DAM) and will be awarded a PADI Discover Scuba certificates at the end of their sessions.
President Nasheed is already a PADI Advanced Open Water diver.
“The ministers are fairly comfortable in the water particularly given that they’ve just started diving,” said Zoona Naseem, president of DAM and a PADI staff instructor. “None of ministers have ever been diving before except the defence minister and all of them are very enthusiastic.”
Three of the ministers have expressed an interest to train for their PADI Open Water diver certificates.
Paul Roberts
Advisor on International Media & Communications
The President's Office
Republic of Maldives
Photo: Mohamed Ali