(CNN) -- Climate skeptics are indicative of societies in decay. 

So said Mohamed Nasheed, president of the Maldives. 

Speaking at CNN's Earth's Frontiers debate in Seoul, Nasheed said he was looking for a greater urgency from countries and business across the world in dealing with the problems caused by climate change. 

Rather than a slow decay, Nasheed's own nation is faced with a rapid extinction caused by a rise in sea-levels, according to many climate scientists. 

Joined at the debate by filmmaker and environmentalist James Cameron, Puma's CEO Jochen Zeitz, and Changhua Wu of The Climate Group, Nasheed noted what was at stake when talking about future energy sources. 

"I think it's going to be very difficult for the Maldives to survive if business goes as usual," he said. "I think it's time especially for big emitter countries to find alternatives and move forward. If not, it's not just going to be the Maldives, it's going to be all of us." 

Instead of revisiting the divisions that flared between countries at the Copenhagen climate summit in December, Nasheed struck a more inclusive tone on how countries can work together to create a carbon-neutral future. 

"I don't think this is an issue of developed and developing countries. Given the opportunities, (developing countries) would have done the same. 

"But of course industrialized countries have more capabilities and more means, and there are people who are in trouble. If they want to lend a hand, that's the decent thing to do." 

Zeitz took a stand for businesses taking the initiative in promoting renewable energy by saying that business cannot wait for government action. 
Was the filmmaker Ron Howard there?
unknown