Tired of failed climate promises by rich nations, tiny Maldives takes matters into its own hands

Even when funding is approved, the process is tedious and the money could take years to materialise, said Ms Shauna, giving an example of two projects from Maldives under the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

“By the time the money does come to the Maldives, the entire reality has changed – we’re talking about coastal erosion, about running out of fresh water,” she said.

“People can’t wait for the money to come five years later to address the issue of erosion.”

This has forced the nation to take matters into its own hands and inject funds from its domestic revenue and budget to invest in green transition and adaptation.

MALDIVES’ GREEN INITIATIVES

The nation is using engineering solutions to put in place coastal protection projects, such as preserving and regenerating coral reefs. 

“So far, we have protected about 13 per cent of our reef area. We are using nature-based solutions on how we could possibly use it as a defence mechanism against tidal swells and coastal erosion,” said Ms Shauna.

“We are also looking at utilising new technology to collect data and better design our coastal protection and adaptation measures. So like I said, we’re not waiting for the world to come to us. We are already doing this (ourselves).”

With none of its islands able to meet the freshwater needs of its population of around 530,000 people, Maldives has built desalination plants across the archipelago. 

Through land reclamation projects, the nation has increased the size of some of its islands where the land is higher.

However, Ms Shauna acknowledged that land reclamation is a “double-edged sword” that also harms the environment and impacts marine resources.

Maldives is also constructing a floating city that can house 20,000 people using modular units attached to an underwater concrete hull that is screwed to the seabed.

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IN FOCUS: How a devastating oil spill has sparked new fears about Southeast Asia’s gas ‘feeding frenzy’

The crisis that may occur, which sparked a crisis that has persisted to this day, was illustrative of the growing fear among the medical community, environmental organizations, and energy analysts. & nbsp,

In particular, a regional rush to expand the fossil fuel industry, particularly in the form of liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) hubs and possibly many more activated oil and gas fields, is endangering the environment, climate, and livelihoods of the local population.

According to Mr. Ivan Andres, the assistant head of research and policy from the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development( CEED ), a non-governmental organization in the Philippines that focuses on lasting energy, industry and management,” more and more tankers – LNG ships will be able to go through the area.”

” Of course, there are more possibilities of capsizing and fatal events like the one we saw in Oriental Mindoro given the increased number of these containers in the area.”

Big delivery and possibly hazardous cargoes are one of the signs of that industry’s expansion. The development of offshore oil and gas boring has also drawn more attention, as has the leak of heavy metals into waterways.

In the Philippines, Batangas, a town to the south of Manila in southern Luzon, is the hub of business activity. There, new or rebuilt power plants and LNG stations are being quickly put online as part of the country’s infrastructure.

The MT Princess Empress had been traveling through lakes in and around Batangas that were frequently used by tankers and cargo ships. LNG ships are becoming more and more prevalent.

They are the same waters used for generations by small-scale fisherfolk from places like Pola, the community worst hit by the oil spill, toNaujan, the epicentre of the disaster response activities for the weeks and months that followed after the incident.

These developments, beginning with the oil spill, the local growth of fossil fuel and LNG, as well as the numerous problems being faced by the coastal communities and fisherfolk, are unquestionably a wake-up call for increased safety and safeguarding of the Verde Island Passage, Mr. Andres said.

The factual data indicate that the Verde Island Passage’s value and health are deteriorating. It serves as evidence that its latest laws and policies are inadequate.

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Deep-sea solution seeding hope for struggling but essential seaweed farming industry

Despite the administrative difficulties, Prof. Largo is in favor of efforts to concentrate on deeper water gardening. However, he added that a national focus should also be increased in jellyfish development and research.

Well, it’s bad news for the Philippines because we’re not really innovating with the right algae strains that can withstand the elements. But some scientists are truly significant. Those who are still intact are on the verge of retiring, he claimed.

And the rising temperatures haven’t actually subsided. We’re also conducting business as usual. It’s a really challenging factor to power, regardless of what we’re doing as scientists. You want to implement cutting-edge farming techniques.

Dr. Jayvee Saco of Batangas State University’s VIP Center for Oceanographic Research and Aquatic Life Sciences & nbsp is more upbeat about the ongoing research his team and others are conducting on seaweed strains with higher yields, greater resilience, and advantageous functions. & nbsp,

” I believe we need to close the gap between the producers and the findings of our knowledge, and we’re now it.” Additionally, the majority of farmers are quite open to the technology we are offering. Because, first and foremost, that is how they make a living, he said.

They continue to be among the poorest. Therefore, we must improve their ability to make enough money.

He claimed that the uses for seaweed and its by-products are numerous and frequently unappreciated. If Philippine producers can satisfy the demand, markets are prepared to get more exploited.

Dark seaweed extract known as carrageenan is an example of a common food antioxidant used in people’s daily lives all over the world.

” It can be found in ice cream, bread, cakes, sausages, beer, milk, napkins, diapers,” gel pens, and makeup ,” according to the article. It can be found anywhere. Therefore, using algae has a lot of possibility. How we can use them will determine how, according to Dr. Saco.

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