The Maldives has called for urgent global action to close the gap between climate ambition and delivery, stressing the need for accessible, grant-based finance for vulnerable nations.
Highlighting these areas, the Special Envoy for Climate Change of the Maldives, Ali Shareef, delivered the national statement at the High-Level Segment of the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.
Speaking on behalf of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Ali Shareef conveyed the Maldives’ deep appreciation to the Government of Brazil for hosting COP30 in the heart of the Amazon. He noted that the conference is convening at a moment of significant global uncertainty and marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, serving as a reminder of the need to demonstrate that multilateralism can still deliver.
The Special Envoy highlighted the widening gap between global ambition and action, stressing that despite decades of negotiations, the world remains off track to meet the 1.5-degree target. He emphasised the Maldives’ leadership, recalling the submission of its enhanced Third Nationally Determined Contribution earlier this year, which strengthens emissions-reduction measures and safeguards climate-exposed sectors through 2035.
He further underlined the urgent need to advance the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance and reiterated that adaptation must be treated as a global priority equal to mitigation. He further called for accessible, predictable, and primarily grant-based finance for vulnerable nations and reaffirmed the Maldives’ appeal to triple adaptation finance by 2030.
Concluding his statement, the Special Envoy said vulnerable populations face a threat to their survival and that negotiations are essential to protect both the present at the future. He noted that the Maldives stands ready to act, and urged international partners to join in these efforts.
Ali Shareef is attending COP30 as Head of the Maldives Delegation, leading the country’s engagement across key high-level events and participating directly in negotiations on behalf of the Maldives.