Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has called for urgent international action to address the issues of rising sea levels and melting glaciers.
The Vice President made this appeal in his statement at the opening ceremony of the "High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation," held in Tajikistan from the 29th to the 31st of this month.
In his statement at the conference's opening ceremony, he called for urgent international action on the issues of rising sea levels and melting glaciers. He also stated that the rapid pace of glacier melting and its resulting consequences are matters of extreme concern for the Maldives.
His statement highlighted that the Maldives has submitted its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) this year, which guides resilience and low-carbon development. He reiterated the government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions to 1.52 million tonnes by 2035 with international assistance, and to ensuring that 33 percent of the energy produced in the Maldives comes from renewable sources by 2028.
In the Vice President's statement, he called on all countries to submit their NDCs before COP-30, urging them to strengthen their resolve, recognize the sensitivity of the issue, and work transparently. He stated that if meaningful solutions to climate change are desired, international pledges must become irreversible commitments rather than merely symbolic gestures.
In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of international assistance in providing financial support directly targeted at building specialized technology and capacity for climate change, and overcoming the challenges faced by Small Island Developing States.
He concluded his statement by calling for increased cooperation on the issue of rising sea levels caused by melting ice, and assuring that the Maldives will remain committed to working closely with the international community in confronting the threat of glacier loss.
The Vice President has now concluded his official visit to Tajikistan to attend the conference. During this visit, the Vice President paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Qohir Rasulzoda. In this meeting, both leaders gave assurances that they would further strengthen bilateral relations and work together in areas of mutual benefit.
The President's Office stated that this visit was a valuable opportunity to further articulate the Maldives' policies on environmental protection and climate change to the international community, and to strengthen the Maldives' relations with countries working towards sustainable development.
