Maldives and India Partner to Bolster Climate Resilience and Environmental Protection

The Maldives and India have committed to strengthening their bilateral cooperation in the environmental sector, focusing on climate resilience, atmospheric science, and technical collaboration to combat the escalating risks of climate change. Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ali Shareef held these strategic discussions with India’s Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Minister Shareef was accompanied by Ahmed Shaan, Director of Knowledge Management, Research and Assessment. Central to the talks was the development of practical measures to protect fragile coastal ecosystems. The two nations explored joint efforts to map erosion-affected areas and enhance the use of Earth observation systems to identify and mitigate climate risks. Both parties emphasized the urgent need to protect mangroves and preserve marine biodiversity, which serve as critical natural defenses for the Maldives' low-lying islands. Beyond immediate conservation efforts, the ministers focused on long-term capacity building. This includes forging stronger ties between the technical institutions of both countries and implementing specialized training programs to equip professionals with the tools needed for environmental management. To formalize these initiatives, the Maldives and India agreed to work toward official agreements that will institutionalize their cooperation. These efforts are intended not only to benefit the two nations but to serve as a framework for building climate resilience across the broader South Asian region. During the UNCCD COP17 summit, the Maldives also utilized the international platform to advocate for the unique vulnerabilities of small island developing states. The Maldivian delegation urged that the specific challenges faced by such nations be fully integrated into the Convention’s international standards and the mechanisms governing financial assistance for climate adaptation.