The Government of the Maldives has reaffirmed commitment towards greening the aviation sector and to reduce its detrimental impact on the environment. The statement was made by Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Aishath Nahula, while speaking at the inauguration of the workshop titled "Environment Matters in Aviation: EU & South Asia Reuniting to Tackle Climate Change".
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop, Minister Nahula said the fight against climate change is especially crucial for the Maldives, as the country’s survival depends on it. Highlighting the negative impact of aviation fuel on the environment, the transport minister said sustainable solutions need to be established to minimise this impact.
The three-day workshop under the EU-South Asia Aviation Partnership Project is being held in Paradise Island Resort, following the Maldives’ participation in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The workshop aims at reuniting focal points from countries in South Asia to continue working together to address the adverse effects of the aviation sector on climate change.
The environmental activities under the project are focused on supporting countries in the region to achieve the ICAO goal of Carbon Neutral Growth from 2020 onwards and strive for further carbon dioxide emissions reduction, mainly through activities to ensure appropriate CORSIA implementation and the development of State Action Plans.