October 2009. President Mohamed Nasheed, together with his entire cabinet, is sitting on the ocean floor, six meters below the surface. Diving suits, oxygen masks, documents in waterproof folders. This was no joke or media stunt—it was a desperate attempt to draw the world’s attention to the unfolding tragedy.
The Maldives are disappearing. Literally.
80% of the country’s territory lies less than one meter above sea level. The average elevation of the islands is just 1.5 meters. I sometimes imagine what it must be like—to live in a place where every wave is a reminder that your home could disappear. 1,190 islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, of which only 200 are inhabited.
The Maldives emphasize sustainable development goals even more—beneath the ocean’s surface
But this is where the strange story begins. In 2024, the Maldives welcomed over 2 million tourists. Luxury resorts, overwater villas, underwater restaurants. People pay a fortune to spend their holidays in a place that might disappear in a few decades. Isn’t that a paradox?
Tourism generates about 60% of the country’s GDP. Without it, the Maldives would have collapsed economically long before the water could flood them. But this same tourism contributes to the climate change that is killing the country. Airplanes, ships, air conditioning in hotels.
I think this must be frustrating for local politicians. On one hand, they need tourism revenue to survive. On the other, they see the water level rising every year. “How do you run a country when you don’t even know if it will exist in 50 years?”
Maybe that’s why the Maldives have embraced the UN Sustainable Development Goals so strongly. For them, it’s not some abstract theory of development. It’s a matter of survival. Every day of delay means the sea comes closer.
The government in Malé realized that the traditional approach to politics wouldn’t work here. You can’t think in terms of elections or four-year terms. You have to think generations ahead, even if it’s uncertain whether those generations will have a place to live.
Three pillars of the SDG strategy: economy, society, environment
The Maldives have long demonstrated that small nations can think globally. After outlining the urgency of climate challenges, it’s time to look at specific mechanisms for implementing sustainable development strategies.
The economic pillar is based on a simple principle – encourage what you want to see. The government has introduced tax incentives for resorts that eliminate single-use plastics. Hotels using solar-powered seawater desalination systems receive a 15% reduction in the tourism tax. These are not just symbolic gestures – since 2019, 240 resorts have been certified as “plastic-free,” generating annual revenues of 890 million USD.
| Pillar | Flagship program | Key metric |
|---|---|---|
| Economic | Green resorts | 240 certified venues |
| Social | Remote education | 540,000 students covered |
| Environmental | Renewable energy | 26% current share |
The social dimension is, above all, about combating geographic isolation. Distance learning has already reached 540,000 students on remote atolls—a figure that seemed unattainable just five years ago. Telemedicine programs under the auspices of SDG 3 enable specialist consultations without the need to travel to Malé. In fact, nearly every family in the Maldives now has access to basic healthcare through satellite connections.
I used to think that such solutions were science fiction for wealthy countries. It turns out that necessity truly is the mother of invention.
The environmental pillar focuses on two main goals: 70% renewable energy by 2030 and the restoration of 450 hectares of mangroves annually. Currently, renewables account for 26%—mainly thanks to solar farms on uninhabited islands. The mangrove restoration program involves not only planting but also monitoring with drones—a technology that enables real-time tracking of biomass growth.
The governance mechanism is the National Development Strategy 2020-2030, which has directly integrated the SDGs into the budget planning system. Each ministry has its own dashboard with KPI indicators, updated quarterly. It may sound bureaucratic, but it works—all infrastructure projects must pass a compliance filter with at least three sustainable development goals.
These official structures and specific actions provide a solid foundation, although not everything proceeds without disputes and controversies, which deserve separate discussion.
Controversies and Challenges: Can Green Tourism Stand the Test of Time?
The Maldives on social media look like pure paradise. Turquoise waters, luxurious overwater villas, influencers promoting “sustainable holidays.” But behind this glossy image lie some uncomfortable truths.
The problem with the Maldives is that every step towards green tourism sparks new controversies.
Take, for example, what happened in November 2025. The @Paradise_Maldives resort announced a major expansion of its “eco-resort.” Sounds great, right? Except that to make room for new villas, they had to dredge the ocean floor. Literally destroying the coral reefs they’re supposed to protect.
Social media exploded. The comments were ruthless. One user wrote: “This is your idea of ecology—destroying reefs for more pools.” The resort quickly deleted the post.
Here are the three main challenges that keep you up at night:
- The reclamation dilemma – every new project means deepening the seabed and destroying the ecosystem
- Climate skeptics – use rising property prices as an argument against the threat
- The waste problem – 2 kg of garbage per tourist per day, and recycling options are embarrassingly limited
What annoys me most is the argument of the skeptics. One of them recently told me:
“If the islands are supposed to be sinking, then why do house prices keep going up? That just proves the islands aren’t sinking and all this panic is nonsense.”
On the one hand… it makes sense. Who would invest in something that’s about to disappear? On the other hand, the real estate market doesn’t always reflect climate reality. Remember the 2008 crisis? Prices kept rising until the very last moment.
The real headache is waste. Every tourist generates an average of 2 kilograms of trash per day. There’s no room for sorting facilities on small atolls. Most of the plastic ends up… well, where exactly? Officially—in landfills. Unofficially—in the ocean.
I saw it with my own eyes during a visit to a local atoll. Mountains of water bottles, food packaging. And the resort 200 meters away advertises itself as a “zero waste facility.”
That doesn’t mean it’s all lies. Some centers genuinely make an effort. But the gap between marketing and reality can sometimes feel like a chasm.
Course for 2030 – what are the next steps for the Maldivian SDGs?
The Maldives have a few crucial years ahead to truly achieve their ambitious climate goals. It’s no longer about discussions, but about concrete action.
ROADMAP TO CARBON NEUTRALITY
01.01.2025 -------- Launch of main solar farms on the atoll
15.06.2026 -------- Modernization of the islands' energy system
30.09.2027 -------- CHECKPOINT: 50% renewable energy
01.03.2029 -------- Completion of energy storage projects
31.12.2030 -------- GOAL: Carbon neutrality
Honestly, this timeline looks tight, but achievable. The key will be to maintain momentum between 2027 and 2029, when most of the infrastructure needs to be ready.
When it comes to investments, there’s a lot of exciting activity happening here. The blue economy isn’t just a buzzword—it’s about real opportunities. Start-ups focused on aquaculture, ocean plastic recycling, and desalination technologies are actively seeking funding. Maldivian green bonds are gaining popularity, as investors recognize their long-term value.
But for all this to work, external cooperation is essential. Tourists can choose eco-certified resorts, investors can direct capital into renewable projects, and policymakers can support technology transfer. It may sound naive, but each of these groups truly does influence the pace of change.
What can be monitored in the coming years? The percentage share of renewable energy, the number of new blue economy projects, and changes in tourism policy. These indicators will show whether the Maldives are heading in the right direction.
I believe that 2030 will be a test not only for the Maldives, but for the entire model of small island nations fighting climate change. If they succeed, it will become a blueprint for others.
The future of the Maldives depends on the actions taken over the next three years – there’s no time to delay.
NOAH MI
travel & lifestyle editor
