President: Maldives, with help, could achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that the Maldives could reach the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, provided that the international community assists the Maldives in this effort.  

The President was speaking virtually at the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement when he expressed that given international support and assistance, the Maldives could achieve net-zero commitments as early as 2030.

President Solih said that the Maldives was fully understood the scale of climate change and is fully committed to meeting its challenges.

He added that unlike countries that have the luxury of still focusing on mitigation the Maldives is already directly impacted by the climate emergency and is being forced to undertake adaptation measures at an accelerated pace.

During his remarks, the President stated that given the current amount of resources we have available, the Maldives is on track to reduce a quarter of carbon emissions by 2030.

He added that while this was a positive start, that the Maldives would like to commit to an even bolder vision.

He reiterated that to reach such ambitious targets would require the international community to provide the consistent technical and financial assistance they have pledged to countries such as the Maldives over many decades.

President Solih said that the Maldives will do all that it can to address the climate emergency and called on international partners to fulfill their global climate responsibilities.

United Nations Climate Ambition Summit is held to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement while also providing a platform for Heads of States and Governments to outline their national priorities and vision with respect to reducing carbon emissions.

The summit, which is being co-hosted by the United Kingdom, France and the U.N, in partnership with Chile and Italy, will be part of the lead up to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled to take place from 1–12 November 2021, in Glasgow.