Maldives seeks to take advantage of climate compensation fund
President Mohamed Muizzu is also scheduled to arrive in the UAE on Thursday to attend COP28.
Environment minister Thoriq Ibrahim has said that the Maldives will take advantage of the Loss and Damage Fund set up in the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) of the United Nations last year to address climate change and disasters.
The minister was speaking to reporters at the Velana International Airport before leaving for the COP28 meeting in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Thursday to December 12. The minister was accompanied by Maldives' Climate Envoy Ali Shareef.
COP is an annual meeting of United Nations countries to review the actions various countries are taking to address global warming and climate change and to develop a roadmap for how to proceed.
This year's meeting will be the largest since the COP21 meeting, which saw the signing of the Paris Agreement. The minister stressed the importance of COP28 and highlighted the issues that Maldives will advocate on behalf of itself.
"Especially for developed countries, they have historical emissions. They have grown and developed by releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere," he said.
"From small island countries like ours, we are emitting no emissions, or very small amounts of toxic gases. But we are suffering the most”.
Therefore, he said small island countries like Maldives are advocating for:
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To reduce the emissions of toxic gases into the atmosphere by major countries
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To help small countries affected by climate change
The Loss and Damage Fund was established at the year 2022’s COP27 to provide assistance to small countries. However, the fund management and use of the fund will be decided by the COP.
The fund will be used to solve the problems facing Maldives, Thorig said. The money will be spent on:
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For adaptation work
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To solve the problem of erosion
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To prepare for the impacts of climate change
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To develop the people and promote awareness
In addition, Maldives will advocate for changing the aid system of financial institutions in the world, prevent global warming from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius, generate renewable energy to reduce electricity costs and seek more projects, he said.
"We believe this will be a very promising COP," Thoriq said, adding that scientists are issuing a red warning over global warming.
President Mohamed Muizzu is also scheduled to arrive in the UAE on Thursday to attend COP28. He will also deliver a speech at the meeting as the head of the Maldivian delegation.
The heads of state of 160 countries are participating in the COP28, and the President is scheduled to meet with the heads of state of various countries and hold various discussions during the meeting.
