Mother Nature Network

Not one of the 1,200s island that make up the Maldives is more than 6 feet above sea level, and the island nation is doing everything it can to cope with rising oceans. The country has gone carbon neutral, it’s built retaining walls around every island, and in January 2011 the Maldives government signed an agreement with Dutch Docklands to develop five floating islands. The star-shaped, tiered islands will feature beaches, golf courses and an environmentally friendly convention center, and indoor areas will be nestled under green-roof terraces. The project will cost millions to complete, but it’s a small price to pay when your entire nation is expected to be underwater one day.