India is set to develop ‘hybrid energy’ to cater to the needs of 30,000 people spread over a few islands in the Maldives. This was decided after a meeting between Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Thursday.

Speaking to The Indian Express on Friday, Nasheed said he looks up to India to “romantically and morally” help his country. “Your PM told me India is doing whatever it can for renewable energy using what he called its ‘modest resources’. India has very kindly decided to create hybrid power in a strip of islands in Maldives,” said Nasheed.

The idea is to create power in the ‘showcase’ strip of islands through whatever means locally suitable. “The hybrid energy would be solar, wind or wave. It would help 30,000 people,” said Nasheed.

“I look at India to save the world. India has more moral authority than any other country to do so. It is doing so much on climate change. Romantically too, I would want India to save the world,” he added.

Distinguishing between help from India and help from other countries, he said: “Rich countries should loosen their purses to help the developing world who may face the worst effects of climate change. Maldives is a frontline country. We are already facing the effects of climate change. But money from rich countries...we have to first look at the colour of that money. Nothing comes as a free lunch.” The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change makes a specific provision for developed (Annexe 1) countries to provide financial aid to the developing world both to mitigate climate change and to adapt to it.

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