The President of the Maldives, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, and his ministers holds the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting on Saturday 17 October 2009 (at 10am local time), to draw global attention to the pressing issue of climate change.

In the cabinet meeting held four meters below sea level at Kaafu Atoll Girifushi in Maldives, Maldives President, Vice President and ministers used hand signals and whiteboard to communicate to ratify a statement calling for rapid greenhouse gas reductions, which will be presented at UN climate change talks in Copenhagen this December. Underwater Cabinet meeting which lasted for about 30minutes was held with maximum security and divers from Maldives Defense force dived with President and ministers.

The underwater cabinet meeting was a part of a wider campaign by international environmental NGO 350.org, calling on political leaders to commit to deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions at Copenhagen.

Ministers signed their wet suits which are auctioned on protectmaldives.com to raise money for coral reef protection in the archipelago nation.

Ministers have been taking scuba diving lessons since September 2009 with the help from Divers Association of Maldives (DAM). President Nasheed is already a PADI Advanced Open Water diver.

Famed for its first-rate diving, the Maldives stands at the frontline of the climate change battle. President Nasheed has often warned of the dangers climate change poses to his country. More than 80% of the country's land, composed of coral islands scattered some 530 miles across the equator, is less than 3.3ft above sea level.