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No.320 オリジナル英文

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Maldives Waits for World to Decide on Its Future
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The people of Maldives say the sea brings life to their country, but scientists say it could, one day, take it away.

The nation, which is made up of more than a thousand small islands in the Indian Ocean, is the lowest lying in the world, with an average ground level of just 1.5 meters above water.

If current global warming trends continue, experts predict the country could be completely submerged by rising sea levels in about a century's time.

Maldives leaders hope the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen will help reverse the trend.

Thousands of delegates from nearly 200 countries will take part in the event that begins Monday.

Their aim is to construct an agreement for controlling greenhouse gas emissions that lead to rising temperatures.

Maldives Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan says participants will be in a position to save his country.

A major point of contention in reaching an accord is deciding on how to balance the responsibilities of developed and developing countries.

For years, industrialized nations have enjoyed modern comforts while polluting the atmosphere, and it has been agreed that they should be held more accountable for reducing the world's CO2 levels.

Meanwhile, the two largest countries, China and India, are becoming more developed and Beijing argues its emissions requirements should be more lax as it tries to catch up with the West.

But others disagree.

They say if China and India are allowed to have reduced regulations, global climate change would accelerate at a significantly quicker pace.

As the debate continues, Maldives waits on the sidelines.

Vice President Waheed says the nation has looked into buying land in other countries in case its citizens are eventually forced to move abroad, but he says the world must take action before that happens.

Tuesday, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research announced melting ice on the continent could add to rising global sea levels.

It’s believed waters could climb by 1.4 meters by 2100 unless measures to reduce pollution are taken.

In an effort to make sure the prediction doesn’t turn into a reality, Maldives has pledged to become the world's first carbon-neutral nation.

President Mohamed Nasheed is to reinforce that promise when he leads the country's delegation in Copenhagen.

Phillip Walter Wellman for VOA News, Malé
by danueno | 2009-12-09 15:13 | オリジナル英文


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