Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna has stated the world is failing to stop climate technology and is rapidly running out of time to prevent disastrous consequences. She made the remarks while speaking on the sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The sixth assessment report of IPCC stated climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption to both human societies and the natural world. As such, the report warned that communities and ecosystems least able to cope with the impacts of climate change are being hit the hardest. In this regard, the report reiterated that the window of opportunity to slash greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change is narrowing as temperatures continue to rise and the world approaches the 1.5 degree threshold, after which many devastating climate impacts become irreversible.
Speaking on the report, Minister Shauna stated the world is failing to stop climate change, adding the world is fast approaching a point of no return, threatening life everywhere. The minister called for renewed global efforts to rapidly decarbonise the global economy, noting the Maldives also needs urgent help to properly adapt to climate change and hit the net-zero targets of the country. She also called for a dedicated financing facility to support the most vulnerable countries, which are already suffering significant losses and damages caused by climate change.
Following the publication of the IPCC report, the environment ministry has released a press statement assuring that the government’s climate change agenda towards resilience building and adaptation efforts will be enhanced based on the findings of the report. The ministry stated ongoing efforts and implementation work related to coastal protection, flood mitigation, water and food security, sustainable economic development, sustainable management of reefs, biodiversity, ecosystems, climate proofing of critical infrastructure and the health and well being of communities will be strengthened to promote climate resilient development.