President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has arrived at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), marking it the first time in 12 years a Maldivian head of state is joining the event. President Solih is accompanied by a delegation of high-level officials including the Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.
COP26 is a major event for the Maldives and an opportunity to address the sustainable development plans of the country on the global stage. President Solih has used international platforms to champion the rights of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and global climate resilience. In this regard, the Maldives announced its plan in 2019 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.
The Maldives has participated in intergovernmental organisations to national-level activities to spearhead efforts to address and bring global attention to the climate emergency.
The Maldives has most notably advocated for fiscal support of resilience building and climate adaptation for lesser-developed nations.
COP26 is being held to bring together all relevant stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of measures to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The summit is being attended by leaders from more than 190 countries, with thousands of negotiators, representatives of governments, businesses, and the public attending.