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President affirms to advocate for citizen's rights to face climate change

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has pledged to advocate for citizens' rights in the face of the critical challenges posed by climate change.

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the Republic Day of Maldives, President Dr. Muizzu announced plans to attend the COP-29 summit in Azerbaijan. He stated that his trip to Azerbaijan aims to secure compensation from those responsible for environmental destruction to address the harm caused.

Highlighting the Maldives' ecological fragility and vulnerability, President Dr. Muizzu underscored the critical need for regional development. He also stressed the importance of recognising climate change as an undeniable reality. The president further emphasised on several key initiatives implemented by the government to protect the environment and advance the nation's sustainable development goals.

One such initiative includes the goal of increasing the share of eco-friendly and clean energy to 33 per cent of the nation's total energy consumption. To achieve this, President Dr. Muizzu noted that 15 MW of solar power has been generated over the past year, with a 164 MW solar power generation project currently in progress.

In his address, the president disclosed that over 400,000 trees have already been planted, contributing towards the goal of planting five million trees to make the country greener. The president further announced plans to establish a biosphere reserve on three additional islands, complementing the efforts in Baa Atoll. Additionally, he revealed that 17 islands have been designated for environmental conservation, with initiatives such as the installation of rubbish bins on these islands, the donation of special waste collection vehicles to 99 islands, and other waste management support.