The government has held formal discussions with senior officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), part of an effort to strengthen environmental defences and accelerate its transition to renewable energy.
Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Tourism and Environment, met with Thiam Hee Ng, Regional Head of the ADB, for wide-ranging consultations addressing the nation's vulnerability to climate change and the complexities of strengthening renewable energy infrastructure. Elisabetta Gentile, senior economist at the bank, added further depth to the exchange with insights drawn from regional economic analyses.
According to the environment ministry, the meeting focused closely on the Maldives’ precarious status as a low-lying island nation increasingly exposed to rising sea levels and erratic weather patterns. Minister Thoriq outlined national efforts in climate adaptation and shared updates on ADB-supported renewable energy initiatives now underway.
Waste management emerged as another critical issue, with the minister citing persistent logistical challenges in transporting and disposing of refuse across the Maldives' geographically dispersed islands, a constraint that continues to complicate progress in environmental stewardship. The environment ministry characterised the meeting as a pivotal step in deepening institutional collaboration, expressing confidence in the potential for expanded engagement in climate resilience and resource mobilisation.
Unfolding against a backdrop of intensifying environmental risks, the Maldives, among the nations most gravely threatened by climate change, is pursuing a wide-ranging strategy centred on resilience-building. Among the administration’s key goals is President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge to convert 33 percent of national energy consumption to renewable sources before the conclusion of his term.