Ministry of Environment and Energy has stated that the government of Maldives strives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), despite numerous challenges, which include climate changes, financial sustainability and the geographical structure of the Maldives.
Maldives is a small country in terms of both land area and population. As Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed countries in the world, huge challenges are faced in achieving SDGs. Out of the 186 inhabited islands of Maldives, the population of 116 islands are less than 1,000.
Ministry of Environment and Energy noted that in those islands, delivering basic needs such as health services, education, and water and sewerage systems are expensive and challenging. Deputy Director General of Sustainable Goals Division of Environment Ministry, Aishath Saadh states that achieving the SDGs are challenging, due to the geographical dispersion of the Islands of Maldives.
Noting that the issue of climate change is a huge challenge for a lot of countries, Aishath Saadh added that it is imperative in Maldives compared to other countries due the low-lying islands. She said that effects of climate change such as soil erosion, coral bleaching and water shortage are challenges to achieving environmental related goals.
60 islands experienced issues of water shortage, according to the statistics of Environment Ministry.