Maldives needs global help to survive climate crisis: President Dr. Muizzu
In a recent article published in The Guardian, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu issued an urgent appeal for global assistance to combat the existential threat of climate change.
Dr. Muizzu emphasized that rising sea levels have long been a reality for the Maldives, with its islands standing just one meter above sea level.
He highlighted that Maldives first highlighted its climate vulnerability on the global stage in 1989.
Despite decades of proactive climate resilience and adaptation measures, the international financial response remains insufficient.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like the Maldives, which contribute minimally to global emissions, face severe consequences but receive only about 14% of the climate finance allocated to the least developed countries.
The Maldives is liable for just 0.003% of global emissions, but is one of the first countries to endure the existential consequences of the climate crisis. Wealthier nations have a moral responsibility to communities like ours. Yet Sids are given only about 14% of the finance that the least developed countries receive.
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Dr. Muizzu criticized the outdated global financial system that uses metrics such as gross national income (GNI) and gross domestic product (GDP).
These metrics misrepresent the economic realities of SIDS, limiting their access to crucial funding.
The Maldives, with its robust tourism industry, is classified as an emerging economy, preventing it from accessing cheaper financing options.
He stressed the need to reassess how funding is delivered, interest rates, and project eligibility for climate resiliency funding.
He further stated that Maldives, consisting of 99% water and 1% land, faces visible impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures and more frequent and intense storms.
Projects like Hulhumalé, a reclaimed island designed for climate resilience, and the upcoming eco-city Ras Malé, highlight the Maldives' commitment to sustainable development.
However, these projects often struggle to secure climate funding due to their classification as infrastructure work.
Dr. Muizzu called for the global adoption of a multidimensional vulnerability index (MVI) at the upcoming UN International Conference on SIDS.
This new measure aims to reflect the true vulnerabilities of SIDS and improve access to essential resources.
He urged multilateral institutions and governments to embrace this challenge, emphasizing that addressing the climate crisis is a matter of equity and justice for the 65 million inhabitants of SIDS.
As the Maldives and other SIDS prepare for the conference form 27 to 30 May 2024 in St John's, Antigua and Barbuda, they seek not charity but a fair and just response to a crisis they did little to create.
This year the SIDS conference is held under the theme of "Charting the course toward resilient prosperity."
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