Maldives Climate Minister Meets GCF Chief to Discuss Easier Climate Finance Access

Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ali Shareef has met with Mafalda Duarte, the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The meeting was held on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings underway in Bangkok. At the meeting, the main discussions concerned ways to increase the support needed for the efforts being made by the Maldives against climate change. Both officials also exchanged ideas over a broad range of matters, including how the GCF could open up paths to obtaining finance or financial assistance allocated for climate issues that would be easier than those currently available. On the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings taking place in Bangkok, Minister Ali Shareef held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Mafalda Duarte to discuss ways to increase support for climate action in the Maldives and how the GCF can enhance access to climate finance. The IMF and World Bank’s 2026 annual meetings are taking place from October 12 to 18 in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the first time in 35 years that these meetings are being held in Thailand. The main areas of discussion at these meetings include the pace of the global economy, stability in the financial sector, the elimination of poverty, the security of digital finance, and the effects that artificial intelligence will have on jobs.