Maldives president takes on US in Hay call for direct action on climate | Books | guardian.co.uk

Asked about educating people about climate change, he said it was too late for that. "Direct affirmative action 1960s style is what we need," he said. When Ed Miliband suggested he might not be able to answer a question on the US and China for diplomatic reasons, he interrupted to say "Yes I can. The Chinese believe in climate change. Not all Americans do."

Here was a man with honesty and humour. Was the underwater cabinet a publicity stunt? "Of course it was," he says. "The Maldives are a small country and we cannot bomb a city to get people's attention."