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‘What will it take for you to listen to us?’ President appeals to world leaders at COP26, describes harsh realities faced by Maldivians due to climate change

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3 years ago

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President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has asked world leaders what it would take for them to listen to the Maldives regarding the harsh realities of climate change. The President made this statement earlier tonight while delivering the National Statement at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) World Leaders Summit. Speaking to world leaders and dignitaries present at the summit, President Solih revealed the grim lived realities of Maldivians already due to climate change.

“Our islands are slowly being inundated by the sea, one by one,” he said, citing several trips that he made to different islands of the Maldives over the past month. President Solih stated that all islands he visited had reported severe erosion – only one of numerous dire consequences influencing the daily lives of Maldivians already. “I am here to tell you that my people are already living the steady onset of this reality.” He said.

Continuing his statement, President Solih said that in a world where the rise in temperature remains unchecked at 1.5 and jumps to 2 degrees, the Maldives would cease to exist and our fate would remain a dark omen of the grim and similar future that awaits the rest of the world. Stating that the Maldives are determined to be a part of global solutions to reverse current trends, the President again reminded world leaders the climate emergency cannot be solved by the actions of individual nations alone. He called on major emitters to step up their efforts to make more ambitious climate commitments and to uphold obligations such as the climate financing pledges made at Paris. He expressed disappointment with the lack of realisation of previously-made assurances, alluding to red tape, required studies and paperwork that render the urgency of the situation ineffective.

“Countries must band together and assist the most climate-vulnerable states to adapt to climate change.” President Solih said. He urged world leaders to agree on stringent accountability measures to ensure that commitments on climate finance are met for vulnerable countries like the Maldives to stand a chance of survival.

Ending the National Statement, President Solih reminded world leaders that this may be the last chance that the world has to get ahead of climate change, reiterating that we must not let this opportunity go to waste.

Maldives announced ambitious plans to reach net-zero by 2030, with international support, during the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2019. President Solih had called on wealthy nations to help vulnerable nations in capacity building, technology transfers and sourcing finance, remarking on concerning trends in global warming and the rate of sea-level rise. As a founding member of Parley for the Oceans ‘Future Island Nation’ programme, the Maldives had taken several severe measures to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of single-use plastics in the country, aiming to become a fully plastic free nation by 2023.

The Maldives’ ‘Climate Smart Resilient Islands’ plans, comprising deliverables in 11 key areas, was formulated as a holistic plan encompassing achievable targets for low-lying small island nations to address the effects of climate change. The plan prioritises building a sustainable society that harmonises with fragile ecosystems while conserving eco-rich areas and rapidly transition to renewable energy sources.

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Nasheed to form new party

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12 months ago

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17/05/2023

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The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed has decided to form a new political party.

Nasheed initiated a separate political movement within MDP, ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’, following his loss in MDP’s presidential primary held back in January. After major conflicts with the government and its policies – all lawmakers from the faction tendered their resignation from MDP on Wednesday.

The move came after Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim was expelled from the party on Tuesday and banned from rejoining for at least one year over involvement in opposition political activities surrounding the Chagos archipelago dispute.

The 12 members who resigned from MDP on Wednesday are;

Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla
Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde)
North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahumy (Inthi)
West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb
North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef
Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef
Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde)
Madaveli MP Hussain Firushan
Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan (Gita)
North Mahchangoalhi MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu)
Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Zahir
All 12 members are close acquittances of Nasheed. MP Hassan Latheef, during a meeting at Bodufenvalhuge on Wednesday, announced Nasheed’s decision to form a new political party. The meeting was attended by supporters of Nasheed.

Should Nasheed form a new political party, that party would be the largest opposition party in terms of members in the parliament, thereby, the minority party. The minority party at present, opposition PPM-PNC coalition has only eight members in the parliament.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

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MPs loyal to Nasheed leave MDP

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12 months ago

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17/05/2023

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Multiple members of the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) loyal to the party’s leader Mohamed Nasheed have left the party.

The members who resigned from MDP include 12 MPs. They include Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, MP Mohamed Waheed, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy (Inthi), MP Hassan Latheef, MP Ilyas Labeeb, MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, MP Hassan Afeef, MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde), MP Hussain Firushan, MP Hassan Shiyan, MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu), and MP Ahmed Zahir.

They submitted their resignation letters Wednesday.

The move comes after MDP’s parliamentary group had requested action against Inthi, Hassan Latheef, Ilyas, Yasir, and Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim earlier this week, for forming an alliance with the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Jumhoory Party (JP) and Maldives National Party (MNP), after accusing the government of failure to protect the interests of the Maldivian people in the case lodged with the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) over the disputed maritime territory between Maldives and Mauritius.

The party’s disciplinary committee decided to expel Azim from the party on Tuesday.

They are all members of Nasheed’s ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction.

However, Nasheed has yet to resign from the party.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

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The Cambodian Prime Minister arrives in the Maldives on an official visit

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1 year ago

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15/01/2023

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The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, arrived Sunday morning on an official visit to the Maldives at the invitation of H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It is Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen’s first visit to the Maldives.

The Cambodian Prime Minister and accompanying delegation were received at Velana International Airport (VIA) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid (ODRI). The government will hold a ceremony on Monday to officially welcome the Cambodian Prime Minister to the Maldives.

During the visit, President Solih would meet with Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen and hold official talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation, followed by the exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. President Solih and the Cambodian Prime Minister would also deliver a joint statement on the outcomes of their discussions.

The Maldives and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1995.

Source(s): President Office.

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