Denmark Foots the Bill for Maldives to Attend Climate Change Summit

The Maldives, one of the countries most affected by the climate change crisis, had said earlier this week that they would be unable to attend the upcoming climate change summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, due to budgetary constraints.

Maldives Flag

Maldives Climate Change Victim

The Maldives’ low-lying topography means that it will be engulfed by rising sea levels within the next few decades, leaving the country with some serious decisions to make:  Will they build or purchase new, “taller” islands onto which to move all their people and buildings?  Will the Maldives’ residents be granted refugee status in other countries when the islands disappear into the ocean?

Climate Change Summit

The upcoming climate change summit is to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark this December 7 – 18.  Talks will be held to discuss the things that can be done across the world to try and slow or reverse the effects of climate change on the planet.

Maldives Financial Problems

Some might find it hard to believe that the Maldives have financial problems with such a thriving tourism industry, but that seems to be the case.  Just earlier this week, the President of the Maldives, Mohammed Nasheem, announced that he plans to levy a climate change tax on all tourists staying on the islands to try and raise more money, as well as a plan to save money to build more high-level lands in the near future.  These future plans, however, do not have funds available now to pay for the President’s trip to the Summit in Denmark.

Denmark Pays Maldives Climate Change Summit

In order for the Maldives to be able to attend, the government of Denmark have announced that they will be paying the bills for the Maldives’ President to attend the summit.  Denmark will also be paying for several other poor nations and low-lying countries to attend the summit.  In total, Denmark will be paying 2.5 million euros for other countries to attend the summit.

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