First national communication of the republic of maldives to the united nations framework convention on climate change

Abstract

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This first National Communication of the Republic of Maldives has been produced with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as part of the enabling activity project; Maldives GHG Inventory and Vulnerability Assessment: A Climate Change Enabling Activity. A national country team worked closely with relevant government sectors in developing this first National Communication. It was prepared in close adherence to the guidelines provided by Decision 10/CP.2 of the Second Conference of the Parties (COP2) to the UNFCCC. This report is composed of seven main chapters: (1) National Circumstance; (2) National GHG inventory; (3) Mitigation of GHG emissions; (4) Vulnerability to climate change; (5) Adaptation to climate change; (6) Policy and measures; and (7) Project proposals. National circumstance The Republic of Maldives is comprised of 1,192 small, low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean. The islands exist as a chain of coral atolls, stretching 860 km from latitude 706’35”N, crossing the Equator to 0042’24”S, and lying between 72032’19”E and 73046’13”E longitude. The total land area of the Maldives is estimated at around 300 km2. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs, which protect these islands from the impacts of strong waves and other such effects. The Maldives enjoys a warm and humid tropical climate, with the weather mainly being dominated by two monsoon periods: the southwest monsoon (the wet period, from May to November); and the northeast monsoon (the dry period, from January to March).