President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated conserving the natural environment of the Maldives and safeguarding the natural resources should be considered one of the fundamental steps to safeguarding the nation and sovereignty. He made the statement in the address to the nation at the special function held at the Republic Square to commemorate National Day.
President Solih underlined the Maldivian economy and the livelihoods of the people are dependent upon restoring our environment to its natural state, calling on the public to rise up with renewed vigour to achieve this goal. Highlighting why conserving the environment is imperative to maintaining our sovereignty and protecting our nation, the president said the nation can only be preserved and protected for the future if there is a nation left to protect. Environmental deterioration is the greatest threat to the future of the Maldives as a nation, confirmed by the latest research and reports, he revealed.
President Solih warned that the generation may well be the last one able to actively avert further destruction of the ecosystems, underlining that it is critical to immediately take measures to alleviate the dangers to our natural environs.
Continuing his address to the nation, President Solih noted a significant role in safeguarding the nations from those impacts has to be taken as the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as the Maldives may only contribute a minuscule amount to the pollution that leads to adverse climate impacts such as global warming. The president said the greatest financial burden also falls upon SIDS like the Maldives, demonstrating the futility of isolationist foreign policies. All nations and states must come together as one family and cooperate towards global climate goals, he stated.
The Maldives is a strong and vocal advocate against climate change on the global stage. The Maldives is also a leader among SIDS, engaging and inviting dialogue in international arenas for the rights of SIDS and addressing the adverse impacts of the climate emergency.