President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated the climate crisis is the most critical issue and must remain prominent on the international agenda. He made the statement at the United Nations Secretary-General's Climate Moment meeting.
The meeting was convened by United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres and the Prime Minister of the UK Boris Johnson. President Solih was among a select group of state leaders invited to the event hosted at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters.
At the exclusive event, President Solih answered questions pertaining to the ambition gaps in mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, as well as finance. Recalling when small islands first began advocating for the 1.5°C temperature limit, the president said the goal is more unlikely with 1.1°C of warming reached already and further warming already locked into the atmosphere and global long-term infrastructure.
Addressing the leaders present, President Solih called on developed nations worldwide to take the steps to meet the goal of 1.5°C enshrined in the Paris Agreement. The president also announced the Maldives remains on track to reduce emissions by a quarter by 2030, however, the nation continues to aim to reach net-zero by 2030, stating that it is an achievable goal with international support. He also encouraged developed countries to pledge to the Green Climate Fund at a level that provides vulnerable countries with assurances that funds are there for adaptation plans while suggesting that action by the G20 on fossil fuel subsidies could be a strong signal heading into COP26.
Ending his statement, President Solih called on world leaders to ensure that multilateral banks and international financial institutions are positioned to provide low-cost capital that is sufficient, predictable, and accessible for smaller nations to implement climate plans.