The United Nations (UN) and the Maldives have discussed working together to address the challenges posed by climate change.
The discussions took place during a meeting between UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Maldives' Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef.
The UN Secretary-General and the Vice President met on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, currently underway in New York. During the meeting, the two officials discussed areas in which the UN and the Maldives can work together.
A key focus of the discussions was the damage countries are experiencing as a result of climate change. The UN Secretary-General assured the Maldives of his commitment to working with the country to further strengthen international efforts to address climate change.
The two officials also discussed securing support from international financial institutions to address challenges arising from climate change. Previously, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had also discussed the importance of international financial assistance in addressing the challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as the impacts of climate change intensify. The President also expressed appreciation for the UN's continued efforts to advocate for the concerns of SIDS.
The ongoing developments on the international stage were also discussed during the meeting. In this regard, the UN Secretary-General and the Vice President discussed the humanitarian situation and actions taking place in the Palestinian territories.