The Maldives and Seychelles have agreed to further enhance collaboration to effectively address the detrimental effects of climate change through global mechanisms. The decision was made during President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan’s state visit to the Maldives.
At a joint press conference, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and President Ramkalawan expressed that as fellow Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and active members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), both nations reaffirmed that climate change continues to pose a significant risk to small island nations and its adverse impacts undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development. Both leaders further expressed their commitment to enhancing collaboration to effectively address the detrimental effects of climate change through global mechanisms, including working together to ensure that the hard-won Loss and Damage Fund is operationalised at COP28.
Additionally, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and President Ramkalawan reiterated the importance for the two countries and other SIDS to continue to advocate for the creation of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI). This will underscore the need for SIDS to be assessed on the basis of their vulnerabilities instead of solely their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. The two leaders also agreed to enhance multilateral cooperation, including collaborating closely with the United Nations (UN) on issues of mutual interest such as addressing climate change, protection and promotion of human rights, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They further agreed to collaborate closely through other multilateral avenues such as IORA and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
Furthermore, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and President Ramkalawan expressed appreciation for the cooperation between the two countries in various multilateral forums, including support for international initiatives and candidatures. President Ramkalawan congratulated the Maldives on its membership to the OACPS as well as its Presidency of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) for the period September 2021 to September 2022. President Solih also thanked President Ramkalawan for his support for the candidature of the Maldives to the United Nations Security Council, for the term 2033-2034 and to the Economic and Social Council, for the term 2027-2029.