Land degradation in island nations such as the Maldives cannot be adequately addressed through a drylands-oriented framework alone, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ali Shareef has said, calling for financial mechanisms that recognise the distinct challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The Minister made the remarks while speaking at the Finance Day of the High-Level Segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Minister Ali Shareef said coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion and the increasing vulnerability of low-lying environments are significant drivers of land degradation in island nations, but remain largely unaccounted for within existing financial architecture.
He called on parties to recognise the urgency of addressing coastal land degradation and to ensure that climate and environmental finance mechanisms are responsive to the specific needs of SIDS and accessible to them.
The Minister also called for the scaling up of tailored blue-green finance solutions suited to island-specific contexts, highlighting the need for financing approaches that reflect the environmental and geographic realities of small island nations.
The Maldives' participation in the UNCCD COP17 reflects its continued advocacy for greater international support to address climate and environmental vulnerabilities facing low-lying island states. The country's environmental policy work has consistently highlighted the risks posed by coastal erosion and other climate-related coastal hazards.
The High-Level Segment of COP17 brings together ministers and heads of delegations from UNCCD member states to discuss key issues related to land degradation, drought resilience and sustainable land management.