Vice President Faisal Naseem has reiterated the commitment of the Maldives to address the global environmental agenda through the development of informed policies on nitrogen management. He made the remarks while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH) meeting in the Maldives.
At the ceremony, Vice President Naseem inaugurated the Massive Open Learning Introductory Course on Nitrogen and launched the Maldives Country Report, which outlines the nitrogen status and management strategies. The vice president emphasised the importance of holding the SANH regional meeting in the Maldives and its contribution to providing an academic and research-based perspective on the issues related to nitrogen management. He further commended the Maldives National University (MNU) for leading the programme in the Maldives in collaboration with the stakeholders.
Additionally, Vice President Naseem underscored the vulnerability of the Maldives due to climate change and stressed that the negative impacts on the environment had continuously threatened the country's economy, industries, businesses, and the health and well-being of the local community. He further said that as the country advances, it will be essential to specify nitrogen emission reduction targets in policy instruments and plans and to ensure the effective implementation of these plans in the endeavour for a healthier planet.
Furthermore, Vice President Naseem noted that while the current population of two billion in the South Asia region is projected to double by 2050, so will the fertiliser input, and the region is also expected to have the highest nitrogen inputs in the world by that time. He also stressed the many challenges this would bring, including food security and environmental and developmental concerns.
The SANH meeting is attended by delegates from the United Kingdom (UK) and eight countries in South Asia which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.