Climate vulnerability must not be what determines the future of the Maldives, and the country can only become a developed nation by building the resilience to withstand climate change, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said.
The President made the remarks while speaking at a session on sea level rise organised by the UN's Global Centre for Climate Mobility on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
President Muizzu said climate adaptation should not be something done only in response to a disaster, but must be built in as part of national development. He noted that projects such as Hulhumalé and Ras Malé are part of the government's vision to make the Maldives a developed country by 2040.
The President also said climate assistance to developing countries must be given in the form of grants, describing it as a matter tied to climate justice.
He further stressed that the islands of the Maldives are not merely land, and that losing even a small part of the country's territory would affect its sovereignty.
