Maldives first country to go carbon-neutral

Renewables to power archipelago within a decade
The Maldives outlined an ambitious target in March to power the islands completely through renewable power within the next decade. The move would make it the first carbon-neutral nation in the world.

Put together for the Maldives Government by environmental experts Mark Lynas and Chris Goodall, the draft plan revolves mainly around solar and wind power. The Government is also looking at possibilities such as ocean current energy and a coconut-husk burning power plant.

The proposal includes steps to offset the emissions from international flights to the islands by buying carbon permits from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

“If a small middle-income country can do this, then think what the rest of the world can do,” Goodall told Green Futures. “It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s a wonderful example of how renewable energy can be used to power a whole country.”

“We understand, perhaps more than anyone, what would happen to us if we don’t do something about [climate change],” said Mohamed Nasheed, President of the archipelago, which stands on the front line of global warming. Situated in the Indian Ocean, many of the Maldives’ 1,192 islands are expected to be submerged by rising sea levels by the turn of the next century, according to a 2007 UN Climate Change Panel report.

The package of low-carbon measures is estimated to cost $110 million a year for ten years, but could pay for itself during that time as oil imports are reduced. The Government is now looking for private investors to fund the scheme. Nasheed admits that it’s not cheap, but says that, effectively, it’s all about “saving for a rainy day”.
– Hannah Bullock

23 April 2009

Hannah Bullock