The Maldives has emphasised the pressing need for a transition towards clean, reliable, and climate-friendly energy sources.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives Abdulla Shahid along with European Union (EU) Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson co-moderated a roundtable discussion on pursuing green opportunities and overcoming global challenges at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum. In his opening remarks, Minister Shahid noted that political commitment, cooperation, and partnerships are essential to work towards the realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The roundtable discussion focused on making green energy affordable and available, promoting renewable energy, and emphasised the need to address biodiversity loss, pollution, and the growing energy demand of the Indo-Pacific region. The importance of partnerships promoting energy diversification through increased investment and utilising technology to achieve green transitions was also highlighted. The upcoming COP28 conference and initiatives such as the EU Global Gateway were cited as examples. Additionally, the need for a whole government and whole of society approach applying a gender lens to the challenges and potential solutions was underscored in the discussion.
The roundtable served as a platform to foster dialogue between the Indo-Pacific and the EU on the urgent issue of climate change and its impacts on all countries. Availability, accessibility, and affordability were highlighted in the discussions as key challenges in achieving the green transition and addressing climate change. The collaboration between the Indo-Pacific region and the EU is vital in achieving these targets and pursuing sustainable development through such forums.