Vice President Faisal Naseem has asked for the support and assistance of the international community for the Maldives to realise the goals outlined in its Climate Prosperity Plan (CPP). He made the call in his keynote address at the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and Vulnerable Group of 20 (V20) event held on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).
In his address, Vice President Naseem shed light on the threats and drastic impacts of climate change on the Maldives and other climate-vulnerable nations, stressing that the countries' exposure to the slow onset of climate threats was bound to increase due to insufficient action from the international community. He said nations deserve to thrive and tap into prosperity and abundance and guarantee the greatest well-being for their people.
Speaking about the CPP of the Maldives, Vice President Naseem said that it serves as an investment instrument and as a plan for raising the funds required for ambitious climate action. He noted that the prosperity plan is about turning this challenge into an opportunity for growth, health, and development. He further said that the country’s CPP details a strategy to manage sea level rise and not only preserve but also rebound biodiversity, including the highly threatened coral reefs of the Maldives. He also noted that the CPP would help the Maldives advance on an integrated energy system to scale up the renewable energy transition in the country rapidly.
Furthermore, Vice President Naseem said that a successful transition to a prosperity pathway would call for a full-economy strategy that includes the contributions of all stakeholders. He announced that the Maldives anticipates the completion of its CPP in the coming months, and emphasised the necessity for complete cooperation and the full concessional finance envelope at our disposal to make this happen.