President Mohamed Nasheed delivered a public lecture at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik on the effects and ways to combat climate change.
He said climate change was a very real threat, and “climate deniers” were trying to continue with “business as usual.”
“A handful of e-mails don’t disprove overwhelming body of science,” President Nasheed said.
The president added that cutting down carbon emissions would not compromise the development of a nation, stating that “we need development but we do not need carbon.”
He used Iceland as an example of a country developing without large amounts of carbon emissions. He said Iceland could be seen as a great example by other developing countries.
The president also spoke of the urgent need for a legally binding climate change treaty.
President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson was present at the lecture. In his introduction he said President Nasheed is “a champion of democracy” and congratulated him on his efforts to highlight the issues of climate change.
The president also visited the University’s Natural Science Building and sought information on geological and climactic change.
President Nasheed concluded his visit in Iceland and left for Switzerland yesterday.
