MHAHE, 2001). Severe beach erosion and fresh water scarcity is an effect of gradual sea level rise. Also, the increased levels of sea water temperature pose a threat to the coral reefs which support the countries tourism and fisheries.

National Policies
The Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) was set up and completed by the Maldives. This not only highlighted how vulnerable the Maldives is to rising sea levels and temperature but included adaptation and mitigation projects. In the Maldives National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), ‘adaptation is seen as “a multi-dimensional goal that aims to increase resilience of the vulnerable systems against climate hazards and risks to achieve sustainable development outcomes” (MEEW, 2007).’
These adaptation actions focus mostly on risk reduction, in particular, building infrastructure to reduce the vulnerability. The Maldives benefits from funding from the LDCF: Integration of future climate change scenarios into the Safer Island Strategy.

Global Governance
It is essential that the Maldives receives funding from other governing bodies, otherwise their adaptation and mitigation strategies would be unreachable. A Climate Trust Fund was set up by the European Union and the World Bank. One of its aims is to ‘build a resilient economy through various mitigation and adaption activities.’ (I. Faisal, 2011). Germany’s International Climate Change Initiative (IKI) helps small island states such as the Maldives in reaching a climate-friendly economy and the use of renewable energies. Germany’s IKI is providing almost EUR 3 million in supporting the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) who is implementing the project. It’s aim here is to work with small island states who are reliant upon imported fossil fuels to meet their demand to