Minister of Environment Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan has stated the Maldives needs financial assistance to mitigate the effects of climate change on the nation.
Speaking at the High Level Ministerial Meeting of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the environment minister said the government of the Maldives is working towards the goal of establishing a blue economy, with emphasis on sustainable development. Noting the government is undertaking several important projects related to sustainable development, the minister said financial assistance is needed to conduct the projects on a wider scale and ensure effective implementation of the policy. He noted the projects are especially critical for a low-lying island nation like the Maldives, which is susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change.
In his remarks, the minister also called for international support in ensuring the average global temperatures do not rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, as stated in the Paris Agreement. He also highlighted how issues like sea-level rise, coral bleaching and loss of marine life could devastate island nations like the Maldives.
The UNCCD meeting was held on the sidelines of the 75th UN General Assembly, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat. During the meeting, discussions were held on ways countries can work together to combat climate change and new measures which can be imposed to ensure sustainable development. The meeting was attended by environment ministers and senior officials of environmental organisations around the world.