The Maldives is one of the lowest lying countries in the world and is threatened by sea level rise and other climate change impacts. With alarming predictions of global sea level rise and most of its islands only one meter high, the Maldives could be in deep trouble very soon. Government scientists fear the sea level is rising up to 0.9 cm a year. Furthermore the country's spectacular underwater world could also soon be under threat. Reef building corals are extremely sensitive to rise in sea water temperatures. It was the first country to sign the Kyoto protocol in 1997 and is closely following the current climate negotiations.