By BAKU, Azerbaijan – The Maldives’ unwavering call for climate action was powerfully renewed today by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who addressed the plenary session of COP29 with a stirring statement on the need for immediate and substantial climate finance. In his address, President Muizzu emphasized the Maldives’ resilience, strength, and longstanding commitment to environmental protection, highlighting the critical role that international cooperation and collective action play in combating the climate crisis.
Opening with gratitude to Azerbaijan and a commendation of the UAE’s COP Presidency, President Muizzu set the tone for a message that went beyond highlighting vulnerability, positioning the Maldives as a nation of “extraordinary fortitude” and a beacon of resilience for all Small Island Developing States (SIDS). “We speak not from desperation,” he declared, “but from a belief in the power of collective action.”
For over three decades, the Maldives has led the call for stronger climate initiatives, reminding the international community that its environment and oceans are more than mere resources—they form the core of the Maldivian identity and heritage. President Muizzu praised the Maldives’ progress, from the recent launch of a comprehensive Energy Policy and Roadmap to green initiatives promoting food security, affordable housing, and economic diversification through expanded port services and Special Economic Zones.
The Maldives’ efforts to become a climate-resilient nation were highlighted as President Muizzu shared his vision for a sustainable, climate-resilient Maldives by 2040. This ambitious vision includes a 20-year plan that will soon be unveiled as a blueprint for a developed, sustainable Maldives.
However, the President stressed that financial support remains the primary obstacle, calling on the global community to respond with “trillions, not billions,” to match the true scale of the climate crisis. In his words, this COP must live up to its designation as the “finance COP,” delivering meaningful commitments that include adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage provisions tailored to the unique circumstances of Small Island Developing States.
President Muizzu also highlighted the disparities in global finance priorities, noting that while funds flow freely for conflict, climate adaptation often faces resistance. He urged a fundamental reprioritization, a shift in global financial systems that prioritizes lives over climate change impacts.
President Muizzu’s calls at COP29 resonated with a powerful message to the world: the Maldives may be small, but its voice carries the weight of a nation leading by example. As he closed, he delivered a message of determination and urgency: “Let us prove this time it will be different.”
In this pivotal year, President Muizzu has once again positioned the Maldives as a bold advocate for climate action, exemplifying leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment in the face of escalating global challenge.