Minister of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim has highlighted that despite the Maldives having low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the global scale, it is pioneering solutions and setting an example for the world. He made the remark while speaking at the closing ceremony of the Climate Change, Diplomacy, Leadership, and Resilience (CHILDRN) Project.
During the ceremony, Minister Thoriq conveyed the longstanding commitment of the Maldives to climate change advocacy, with tangible results emerging after the signing of the 2015 Paris Agreement by numerous countries. He noted that during the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28), which was held eight years later, countries collectively embraced a global stocktake and has initiated practical efforts.
Additionally, Minister Thoriq underscored that the contribution of the Maldives to emissions account for a mere 0.0035% when compared to those of developed nations. He expressed the determination of the Maldives to serve as a model for other nations in addressing climate change, despite the relatively small figure. He also pointed out the renewable energy initiatives announced by the administration, emphasising the crucial role of diplomacy, advocacy, and support from developed countries for small island developing states (SIDS) like the Maldives.
The CHILDRN Project, aimed at enhancing climate change capacity at the Maldives National University (MNU), was funded by the European Union (EU). The collaborative effort involving Université de Liège in Belgium, the University of Economics in Bratislava (EUBA) in Slovakia, and the Université Paris Cité in France, introduced a climate change degree at MNU. The four universities also participated in various information exchange programmes.