President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has arrived in Glasgow, Scotland, to attend the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
President Solih is accompanied by a delegation of high-level government officials including Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna, and Special Envoy for Climate Change Sabra Ibrahim Noordeen. The president is scheduled to deliver the national statement at the conference. The president and delegation are also scheduled to participate in various high-level summits and discussions during COP26 as well as bilateral meetings with other state leaders.
The President's Office stated COP26 is a major event for the Maldives and an opportunity to address the nation's sustainable development plans on the global stage. President Solih has been a vocal advocate regarding the fiscal strain and climate vulnerabilities faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during preceding global forums. Furthermore, the Maldives earlier announced its plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.
COP26 is hosted by the United Kingdom in partnership with Italy. The summit brings parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. More than 190 world leaders participate in the summit, along with tens of thousands of negotiators, government representatives, businesses, and citizens.