A whole culture and way of life may disappear

"Sea level rise may seem insignificant to those of you inhabiting the higher plateaus of the earth's surface, but to those of us who live barely above sea-level, even a small increase in sea-level can can prove to be serious. Indeed, considering the fact that almost all of the Maldives rise barely three to six feet above main sea-level, if adequate measures are not taken right now, a whole culture and way of life may disappear in the not too distant future."

The Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyom: 'The Sea, Our Friend or Foe' speech at the Convention on the Sea and Environment, Palermo, Italy, 18th May 1991