President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated Maldivians deserve a safe place to live as much as anyone else. He made the statement at a side-event of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) called the Commonwealth Leaders at the World Leaders' Summit.
Addressing the state leaders and dignitaries, President Solih spoke of the struggles of Maldivian citizens attempting to live dignified lives while faced with the mounting threat of becoming climate refugees. The president said now is the most crucial time for worldwide friendship, inclusivity, and cooperation, as climate change is a threat to global security, prosperity, and socio-economic development.
He explained the Maldives continues to show leadership and advocate for greater efficiency while contributing very little to global greenhouse emissions. He drew attention to the ambitious plans of the Maldives to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 and questioned why other nations are not as ambitious in their commitments and plans.
Furthermore, President Solih highlighted the climate ambitions of the Maldives and other small states are echoed by the Commonwealth. The president reiterated the need for easier access to climate financing, as the current complicated climate finance landscape deters the very countries that it is meant to support. He implored the Commonwealth to step in to make the funds more accessible and urged to scale up the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub.
Ending the statement, President Solih entreated world leaders to make the right decisions, underlining the urgency of the situation at hand and warning of the dependency of millions across the world on the decisions made at COP26. He warned that if nations fail to make the right decisions here and now, billions more will suffer, including the entire population of the Maldives.