Around the World: Maldives

Carbon-neutral in 10 years

The president of the Maldives says the Indian Ocean nation will become the world's first carbon-neutral country within a decade. Climate researchers say that many of the Maldives' 1,200 islands could disappear if the seas continue to rise.

President Mohamed Nasheed wrote in Britain's Observer newspaper that his country would renounce oil and get all its energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar power. "Going green might cost a lot but refusing to act now will cost us the Earth," he wrote.