BLUEPEACE blog

As one of the lowest-lying countries in the world, Maldives is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The proliferation of images in today’s internet age is such that Maldives is known the world over as a stunning holiday destination. While Maldives has been the subject of many documentaries and news articles regarding climate change, to date no documentary has been produced by Maldivians for an international audience. This is a chance for Maldives to show vulnerability to the world as seen through our eyes.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Bluepeace — Maldives’ first environmental NGO — and to showcase the documentary talent of Maldivian artists, Bluepeace and the Maldives Photographers Association are calling upon Maldivian photographers to engage in a photo exhibition, Vulnerable.

The exhibition will be hosted in December in Copenhagen by Kilmaforum09, an alternative climate summit with representation from civil society organisations, environmental movements and grassroots activists from serveral countries. Klimaforum09 will take place at the time of COP15 conference in Copenhagen.

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On September 11, 2009, the first environmental NGO formed in the Maldives, marked its 20th anniversary. Bluepeace was started in 1989 by a very young group whose concern for the protection of the local environment for future generations led to the registration of the organization. The enthusiastic young group was too young to register an NGO according to the regulations of that time and had to convince relatives sympathetic to the cause to act as founder members.

“When we started people thought we were crazy,” said Ali Rilwan, the Executive Director of the organization, recalling the initial days when environmental protection were not buzz words, and when a group trying to save a tree or calling for protection of turtles were either ridiculed or laughed at.

During the past two decades Bluepeace conducted a number of campaigns to protect our environment, to increase public awareness on environmental issues and to save endangered or threatened species. Some of the campaigns have been successful while others were not forceful enough to combat the growing abuse of environment. Despite a campaign by Bluepeace to Save Groupers, concrete steps were not taken by the authorities to stop the overexploitation of the species, which led to a severe depletion of groupers and ultimately the demise of grouper fishery as well.

Bluepeace has been vocally advocating for the protection of marine turtles. While the government’s 1995 ban on catching, sale, import and export of marine turtles was effective to some extent in increasing the turtle population, Bluepeace has always stressed the importance of protecting turtle eggs and nesting beaches.  New reports of increased catching and killing of marine turtles mean fresh efforts are needed in the campaign for turtle protection.

Bluepeace has raised concern about increasing damages to environment because of industrial activities and has cautioned against the selection of islands with rich biodiversity and ecological significance for activities such as tourism. We have called for the creation of more nature reserves in the country, and raised alarm when Hanifaru Bay, a whale shark mating area, was threatened with industrial activity. Bluepeace welcomes the government’s decision to protect the Hanifaru Bay area. However, we regret that islands and areas of equally important ecological significance, such as Hudhufushi and Dhiffushimaadhoo area, have not been protected to date.

Bluepeace recognizes the importance of mangrove ecosystems in protecting our environment and regrets that mangroves are threatened by increased human activity. We have stressed the significance of safeguarding coastal vegetation and reefs for protection of our islands.

Some of the issues that have been raised in Bluepeace blog are complex in nature and complicated. We understand how difficult it will be for the authorities to find a quick solution to the environmental hazards created by Thilafushi – a toxic bomb in the ocean.  While it will be a formidable task to overcome the problem of sewage contamination of the seawater around Malé, the gravity of the issue can neither be ignored.

Despite being plagued by a number of domestic environmental problems, the Maldives cannot afford to ignore global environmental issues and their wider implications on this low-lying nation. As the world gears up for the UN climate summit to be held in December, the impacts global warming, sea level rise and climate change can have on the Maldives cannot be underestimated. The issues of migration and adaptation, the scenario of becoming sea level refugees one day, and joining forces with the most vulnerable countries to combat climate change will be some of the issues that Bluepeace hopes to debate and discuss in Copenhagen.

Photo: Nalaka Gunawardene РMal̩, November 1989

In November 1989, less than three months after Bluepeace was formed, the first small states conference on sea level rise was held in the Maldives. As a dramatic conclusion to the conference, a demonstration was held in Male’, in which students and the general public spoke on the imminent dangers of living in a low-lying country. A large billboard placed by Bluepeace asked the question “Do you know we are just four feet above sea level?” Twenty years later we need not ask the same question, as the world is well-aware of the dangers Maldives faces. However, we face the urgent need to talk and work with the rest of the world to find solutions.

Bluepeace is an organization driven entirely by volunteers and we take pride in the dedication of our members and their love for the environment. We appreciate the time and energy that artists, graphic designers, photographers, writers, teachers, doctors, divers and people from all walks of life contribute to Bluepeace and our environment.

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VULNERABLE

As one of the lowest-lying countries in the world, Maldives is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The proliferation of images in today’s internet age is such that Maldives is known the world over as a stunning holiday destination. While Maldives has been the subject of many documentaries and news articles regarding climate change, to date no documentary has been produced by Maldivians for an international audience. This is a chance for Maldives to show vulnerability to the world as seen through our eyes.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Bluepeace — Maldives’ first environmental NGO — and to showcase the documentary talent of Maldivian artists, Bluepeace, the Maldives Photographers Association and 350.org are calling upon Maldivian photographers to engage in a photo exhibition, Vulnerable.

For more information please visit http://www.bluepeacemaldives.org/vulnerable

Bluepeace participated in International Civil Society Conference on the Rights of the Most Vulnerable Countries in Climate Negotiations, at the close of three-day talks at the Dhaka Sheraton which concluded that the countries most vulnerable to climate change must work together in international climate negotiations or the needs of the one billion people they represent risk being ignored

The most vulnerable countries (MVCs) demanded the developed countries to reduce their emission by 45 percent in aggregate against 1990 levels by 2020 and make available a fund of $150 billion a year to help protect the victims.

Civil society representatives from the MVCs made the call at a three-day international civil society conference on the rights of the most vulnerable countries in climate negotiations ended at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on 29 July 2009 with a ‘ Declaration of the International Civil Society of Most Vulnerable Countries.’

The Declaration demanded that Annex 1 Parties under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) must reduce their emission by at least 45 percent in aggregate against 1990 levels by 2020. It also made a call to all parties to the UNFCCC to reach such an agreement at the 15th conference of parties (COP15) in December in Copenhagen so that the global greenhouse gas emissions must peak no later than 2015 as it is a question of survival for people and demanded to reduce the global greenhouse gas emissions by at least 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

“We urge all Parties to the UNFCCC to ensure that an agreement is reached at COP15 to ensure our continued survival,” the Dhaka declaration stated.  “Adapting to climate change is not a choice, it is a necessity,” it added.

“Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States and African countries have little power individually but together make up around 100 of the 192 countries represented at the climate talks. A grouping of this size can command the attention of the US, Europe and China. Only by working together can we ensure the climate deal meets the needs of the one billion people around the world who are least responsible for the climate crisis but who are being hit first and worst by its effects,” said Ziaul Hoque Mukta, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Oxfam in Bangladesh.

“We call upon developed countries to take on binding commitments to reduce their emissions by at least 45% in aggregate below 1990 levels by 2020. In addition financing must be available for Most Vulnerable Countries urgent adaptation needs and the existing barriers to accessing current funding such as multiple and complex accessing criterion must be removed.” said Professor Kwesiga, from the Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA) in Uganda, East Africa.

“All Heads of States in the countries most vulnerable to climate change must prioritize the High Level Meeting on Climate Change in New York in September 2009 – an important opportunity to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard ahead of Copenhagen” said Kwesiga.

Dr. Saleemul  Huq, senior fellow of UK-based Institute for Environment and Development (IED), said civil society in vulnerable countries have to ensure their own governments struck the best deal in the upcoming climate meet in Copenhagen.

“We need to provide assistance. What is not yet agreed is how much money is involved, figures range from $50 billion to $100 billion,” said Huq.

The conference was jointly organized by the Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and Oxfam.

Civil society representatives from the Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia, Niger, Tanzania, Samoa, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines attended the conference.

Declaration of the International Civil Society of Most Vulnerable Countries

29 July 2009, Dhaka, Bangladesh

We, the civil society of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, having met in Dhaka 27-29 July 2009 for the International Civil Society Conference: The Rights of the Most Vulnerable Countries in Climate Negotiations, call upon all governments to recognize the threats to survival and development that anthropogenic climate change poses to the most vulnerable countries.

We urge our governments to join together to raise the voice in the international negotiations of those people whose very survival is threatened by anthropogenic climate change for which they are least responsible.

We call on all Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to recognize the Most Vulnerable Countries (MVCs) as a legitimate collective voice at the negotiations, comprising the majority of Parties to UNFCCC; three-quarters of the membership of the G77; and in excess of 1 billion people globally.

Shared Vision – A fair and safe agreement must be reached at COP15 that limits global temperature increases to no more than 1.5°C. Global greenhouse gas emissions must peak no later than 2015 and then decline to at least 95% below 1990 levels by 2050.

Mitigation – In line with the urgent action that the science demands, developed countries must reduce their emissions by at least 45% in aggregate against 1990 levels by 2020. The majority of this action must be undertaken domestically in order to guarantee a low carbon global future.

Adaptation – Finance must be made available for adaptation in developing countries that prioritises the most vulnerable countries, communities and people, and allows them to define their own adaptation needs. NAPAs must be urgently funded and implemented.

Finance – At least USD 150 billion per year must be made available under the direct control of the UNFCCC for climate change requirements in developing countries, of which at least USD 50 billion per year must be for adaptation, and MVCs should be prioritised. Climate finance from developed countries must be additional and distinct from ODA targets of 0.7% of GNI.

We all have a role to play in combating this global challenge of climate change. We call upon our governments to engage fully and effectively in the international negotiations in support of our demands herein, and we urge all Parties to the UNFCCC to work urgently and resolutely to agree a fair and safe deal at Copenhagen COP15 for the benefit of us all.

We, the MVCs, can afford no delay and no excuses.

The conference was organized by Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) & Oxfam International.