Isramart : Maldives fails to convince fellow vulnerable states to go “carbon neutral

Isramart news:
Earlier this week, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed in his opening speech addressed the “Climate Vulnerable Forum” in Bandos Island, calling on fellow vulnerable, developing countries to embrace a carbon neutral future.

He regretted the lack of progress being made in international climate change negotiations and called on poor, vulnerable countries to show “moral leadership” by shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy.

“A group of vulnerable, developing countries committed to carbon neutral development would send a loud message to the outside world… If those with the least start doing the most, what excuse can the rich have for continuing inaction,” Nasheed asked, according to a press release from his office.

However, the president did not get everything he asked for. According to Reuters, heads of state and ministers at the “Climate Vulnerable Forum” agreed Tuesday to “green” their economies, but stopped short of promising to become “carbon neutral”.

“In short, we have been able to agree that development and green technology or less-carbon development is possible,” President Mohamed Nasheed said afterwards, according to Reuters.

The Climate Vulnerable Forum adopted a declaration emphasizing the need for ambitious financial package and technical help from the developed world in order to achieve carbon neutral status, The Hindu reports.