Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim has urged to implement plans, enhance targets, and commit more funds to projects to battle climate change. The Maldivian Environment Minister made the remarks while delivering the statement at the 23rd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP23) being held in Bonn, Germany.
Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim pointed out that in 2017, climate change has ravaged Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Minister Thoriq said that if the countries want to keep global temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius, it is important to deploy climate solutions faster and at a much greater scale immediately.
Addressing the high level meeting as the Chair of AOSIS, Minister Thoriq noted the tragic events that occurred this year, namely the battering ram of hurricanes struck the Carribbean in recent months which is the highest total accumulated cyclone energy, the fire incidents in California, floods in South Asian countries and desertification in African countries.
In this regard, the Minister said that there is no country immune from climate change and also urged to enhance financing and raising of targets to fight climate change. On conclusion, as the chair of AOSIS, Minister Thoriq called on developed international partners to own their responsibility.