Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna has stated that the Maldives is not dependent on the world in its efforts to overcome climate change. She made the statement during an interview with Channel News Asia (CNA) on the sidelines of the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore.
In the interview, Minister Shauna highlighted the persistent efforts of the Maldives, along with other low-lying nations, to secure financial support from major emitters to address the impacts of climate change. She underscored that discussions on the matter date back to the initial Conference of the Parties (COP) summit. She also expressed concern over the world's inadequate response to aid the Maldives in adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Additionally, Minister Shauna pointed out that the Maldives stands among the most vulnerable nations to climate change and global warming, despite it contributing only 0.003% to global emissions. She said that the country has witnessed a rise in flooding, attributed to intense rainfall patterns, and is grappling with island erosion. She also criticised the lengthy process associated with securing funding, citing examples of two Maldivian projects under the Green Climate Fund (GCF). She highlighted that by the time funds materialise, the environment of the Maldives will be transformed due to erosion and water scarcity.
Furthermore, Minister Shauna said that the Maldives has taken matters into its own hands, allocating domestic revenue and budget to invest in green initiatives and adaptation strategies. As such, she said that the nation is exploring innovative technologies to gather data and enhance the design of coastal protection and adaptation measures in response to rising sea levels. She disclosed that the Maldives is making investments in solar energy, leveraging its abundant solar resources. She also expressed that transitioning away from fossil fuels and embracing solar energy will have wide-ranging benefits for the Maldives, including a substantial reduction in the 10% of the gross domestic product (GDP) spent annually on imported fossil fuels.
The Maldives aims to achieve a net-zero target by 2030 through a strategic shift towards renewable energy and a reduced reliance on fossil fuels.