Adequate Funding Needed to Tackle Climate Change: Minister Zameer

Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer has said that countries facing climate change should work to get adequate funds to face the issues posed by it.

He said this in a post on X, after attending the Munich Security Conference.

The Minister said Maldives is one of the countries with the lowest emissions of toxic gases into the atmosphere. The country emits 0.003 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, he said. However, he noted that climate change often affects the countries with the lowest emissions.

In his posts on X, he noted that small island countries such as Maldives have to seek adequate funds due to the impact of climate change.

Maldives aims to meet 33 percent of its electricity demand through renewable energy, he said, adding that 4 percent of the country's electricity demand is already being met through renewable energy.

Maldives aims to meet 33 percent of its electricity demand through renewable energy, he said, adding that 4 percent of the country's electricity demand is already being met through renewable energy.

In addition, a brand new island called 'Safe Island' will be built to protect the people of Maldives from the effects of climate change.

The Minister added that the island villages of Maldives have been inhabited by the people of the country for the past 4,000 years. Therefore, the people will not be discouraged by climate change and move to other countries, he said. The minister also assured that the people of Maldives will remain committed to fighting climate change.

However, the Minister noted that financial assistance is needed for the fight against climate change. The Minister also said that the accessibility of finance should be improved by considering new criteria such as the UN Multidimensional Vulnerability Index.

Developing countries such as Maldives are facing strong storms and tidal swelling, he said. As a result, developing island countries are needing to spend money that could have otherwise been spent on health and education, on climate change preparedness measures, he said.

Similarly, the Minister noted that it has been a challenge to convince banks and private sector financiers that projects in small island countries like Maldives will be profitable.

In small countries like Maldives, bankability is often required to seek financial assistance for a project, he said. However, he noted that it is difficult to do for a sparsely populated country like Maldives.