It seems that what the local experts had been saying for years, was years ahead of time.
We can surmise that the western nations had only recently begun to grasp climate change issues, given the statement made by US President Barack Obama in the COP 21 summit.
Maldives has been campaigning for climate change action from the 1980s onward, stating the effects of such a change will impact low lying nations such as Maldives more deeply.
Five years ago, two questions were posed to environmental experts regarding whether climate change was an actual thing and on the level of human involvement in the rising temperatures.
82 percent of the interviewed then admitted that humans contributed to climate change. Today the figure stands at 97 percent.
The questions posed by scientists are different today. The question now asked is how much of awareness needs to be there for action to be taken.
Obama had concisely answered the question, warning of dire consequences if timely action is not taken. He noted that this year was the warmest year this century and the effects were felt not only by low lying nations but the whole world.
He added that leaders at the COP21 summit had an important mandate for them with regards to the future of the world.
Had the world taken heed of the country’s plea in the 1980s, the situation would have turned out differently. As President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Qayyoom now the issue is too large to be tackled by one nation alone.
Local scientists leading climate change issues
