Minister of Environment Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan has said difficulties in getting funds for small countries need to be eliminated to overcome climate change impacts on the environment. The environment minister made the remarks speaking at the opening ceremony of Climate Financial Mobilisaion and Access Strategy Workshop for the Island States in the Island Ocean (ISIO).
The minister stated climate change is real and it is affecting every country in the world, adding the negative impacts are relatively high on small island states. Noting the negative impacts of climate change, the minister expressed the main challenge in working against climate change is seeking funds for related projects. He highlighted the business mindset towards environment related projects must be eliminated.
The objective the two-day workshop is to review and finalise the draft ISIO Climate Finance Mobilisation and Access Strategy in addition to develop an implementation plan. The workshop organised by Ministry of Environment and co-organised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is participated by Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles, Madagascar and Maldives.