President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has returned to the Maldives after concluding his visit to Türkiye for the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31).
The summit opened on 10 November in Antalya under the theme “Towards a Sustainable, Resilient and Equitable Future”. The President was accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level government delegation.
Delivering the Maldives’ national statement at the conference, the President called on the international community to fulfil its climate commitments and to bring modern reforms to the global financial system.
He also stressed the importance of turning political decisions into practical results. He called on the international community to recognise the vulnerabilities facing Small Island Developing States.
During the visit, the President took part in several high-level roundtable meetings on climate issues. He shared the challenges facing small island states and advocated for more international support for them.
First Lady Sajidha Mohamed addressed a high-level meeting of the Global Zero Waste Alliance. She highlighted the harm marine waste causes to coral reefs, marine life and food security, and reminded the audience that discarded waste does not simply disappear.
On the sidelines of the summit, the President and First Lady met leaders of other countries, heads of international organisations and climate experts.
The summit focused mainly on the transition to renewable energy, securing finance to tackle climate challenges, and helping island communities adapt to climate impacts.
The President also attended COP28 in 2023 and COP29 in 2024. The government said his active participation in this summit reflects the special importance the government gives to advocating for the Maldives on climate issues at the international level.
