President Mohamed Nasheed has called all developing countries to invest in clean tech development, to build green power stations, and to invest in renewable energy. The President made these remark this morning at the SLOW Life Symposium held at the Six Senses Soneva Fushi Resort in Baa Atoll.

Highlighting the need for both developed and developing countries to be part of the solution against climate change, President Nasheed said what the Maldives is doing should be a model for others. “Even if the rich world stopped all carbon emissions tomorrow, if developing countries continue business as usual we won’t stop climate change”, he said.

President Nasheed underscored the common misconception among politicians in developing countries who very often confuse carbon pollution with development when they are asked not to pollute. He also said, “If we don’t reduce carbon levels below 350 parts per million, we won’t have a climate fit for human civilization by the end of this century.”

Speaking to guests and dignitaries including the Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed, Speaker of the Parliament Abdulla Shahid, the entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, the actor and environmentalist Edward Norton, government ministers, journalists and representatives of the global tourism industry, President Nasheed outlined several areas in which the Maldives government has made substantial progress in beginning the move towards becoming the world’s first carbon neutral country.

Speaking in this regard, the President noted Male’s power utility STELCO’s signing of the first contract under the new renewable-energy feed-in tariff system and Ministry of Transport and Communication’s announcement of a new import regime to ensure that electric cars will be much cheaper than a conventional petrol car.

The President also announced the approval of a reduction in import duties on all renewable energy, energy efficient and zero-emission vehicles and marine craft, in the near future and that the Maldives will spend a minimum of 2% of national income on renewable energy.

The President said: “We know a low-carbon growth trajectory is possible and we are going forward to do it. While costs of diesel generation in the Maldives can be over 40 cents renewable energy costs can be below 30 cents. It is financially and economically viable.”