President Muizzu Calls on COP31 to Prove International Cooperation Delivers Results

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said the COP31 Summit must demonstrate that results can be achieved through internationally collaborative efforts, delivering remarks at the COP31 Summit of the UNFCCC. The President said there are three important issues that need to be resolved to recover from the problems being faced due to climate change. Among them, one issue is the difficulties in obtaining financial assistance, which he described as the most important funding for recovering from climate impacts. He noted that financial assistance must be provided in accordance with what developed countries have agreed to provide to recover from the losses being faced due to climate change. He also said this assistance must be entirely new, sustainable, and grant aid that does not need to be repaid. The President said the financial funds established to provide assistance to the countries most affected by environmental impacts need to be increased. He also said that while small countries have a small share in the climate change occurring today, the financial burden of recovering from the losses caused by it cannot be left to those countries. "The work done for the security of the nation must not result in the accumulation of large debts of a magnitude the country cannot repay," the President said. The President said reforming the international financial system is also important for recovering from the problems being faced due to climate change. In that regard, he said the situation of the countries most vulnerable to the environment must be identified, and special principles must be applied in providing financial assistance. "Providing financial assistance to recover from the losses caused by climate change is not money that will be lost. It must be seen as an investment made to secure the world's future," the President said. The President said implementing the plans arranged to recover from the losses being faced due to climate change is also important, and noted that the Maldives is working to achieve the set targets. "To strengthen food security, and the energy and water systems, the limited available resources are being used efficiently. The number of environmentally friendly renewable energy sources being used to achieve the target set for the renewable energy sector is being increased," the President said. The President said the Maldives is making great progress in obtaining the financial assistance needed for efforts against climate change. He noted that last month the Maldives' first 'National Direct Access Entity' received accreditation from the Green Climate Fund, and that this is the first time such an honour has been received by a small island nation in Asia. The President said that even if great targets are set, if work is not done to achieve them, they are merely empty words. He also said financial, technological and political assistance must be provided to achieve the set targets and produce results. The President also said that while the Maldives is a country highly vulnerable to climate change, the Maldives is not asking for sympathy from other countries, and calls on the international community to work with responsibility. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu also called for the COP31 Summit to demonstrate that results can be achieved through internationally collaborative efforts.