Vice President Faisal Naseem has called for global solidarity in the face of climate change, stating that despite the negligible contributions of the Maldives to the causes of climate change, it would be impossible to respond effectively to them without global support. He made the remarks while delivering the national statement of the Maldives at the 2022 United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP27).
Addressing world leaders at the Sharm El-Sheikh International Convention Centre in Egypt, Vice President Naseem recalled the harsh realities of the world over the past few months, including floods in Pakistan, heatwaves in Europe, and food shortages across Africa caused by climate change. He stated that the lives of Maldivians are also affected daily due to the impact of climate change on the oceans and that it was affecting their sources of nourishment and income. He added that Maldivian fishermen were forced to travel further every year in search of abundant fisheries.
Furthermore, Vice President Naseem went on to detail the severe repercussions of climate change in the Maldives, including the need to rely on modern technologies following the depletion of freshwater supplies, the unpredictability of monsoon shifts that are more frequent and intense, and flooding and storm surges that have irreparably damaged homes and livelihoods. He added that the coral reefs in the Maldives, which are at the core of our tourism product, are on life support and warned world leaders that the country only had 86 months to cut emissions in half and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Additionally, Vice President Naseem also expressed the expectations of the Maldives from COP27, including ambitious commitments on adaptation and mitigation, a visionary outcome on loss and damage that offers a patchwork of solutions to a wide range of issues, and the hope of achieving the collective target of USD100 billion per year in climate finance, with more than half going toward adaptation.
In conclusion, Vice President Naseem stated that because of climate change, the world is changing, and to make sure the new world is equitable and allows every individual to live well.