Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to begin by extending my sincere gratitude and profound appreciation to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China, for their remarkable leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing ambitious climate action.
Your leadership has not only set a powerful example, but they have also made today’s historic launch of the International Zero Carbon Island Cooperation Initiative.
Excellencies,
Low-carbon development is no longer a choice. It is a necessity. As we face the worsening impacts of climate change, we must act now.
Our planet is at a tipping point. The need to reduce emissions and protect our environment has never been more urgent.
China has been an exemplary leader in this movement. The Maldives commends China’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This commitment is a bold and inspiring example of leadership.
China’s efforts to drive green energy innovation, build sustainable cities, and support clean technologies are paving the way for a low-carbon future.
The initiative today is another bold step. It shows the world what is possible when nations work together to embrace sustainability.
For decades, the Maldives, together with our fellow Small Island Developing States have consistently stood advocated for timely and decisive climate action.
Rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and extreme weather events are becoming a new normal.
Our voices echo and reverberate across every multilateral fora, sending a powerful message to the world: we will not remain mere victims of climate change. Instead, we will rise as leaders in driving efforts to a sustainable future – not only for ourselves, but for the fate of the entire planet. We will not be confined to history. We will take charge of our own destiny.
To achieve the safe and sustainable future we all strive for, it is evident that we must unite our efforts – learning from one another and sharing our experiences to build more resilient communities.
This is why the launch of the International Zero-Carbon Island Cooperation Initiative today marks a critical and hopeful step forward.
I am confident that the forward-thinking policies implemented in the islands of Yantai will offer valuable lessons that can be adapted in the Maldives and other island nations as well.
This initiative reinforces our belief that resilience is not a distant aspiration, but a tangible, achievable goal.
Excellencies,
I would like to share some insights from Maldives’ journey towards a just and low-carbon transition.
Determined to take bold and long-term action on climate change, my government has set an ambitious target: by 2028, 33% of the country’s electricity demand will come from renewable energy sources.
This will form a significant part of our Nationally Determined Contributions which we will submit next year.
We are making meaningful progress toward this goal, including substantial investments in renewable energy, alongside efforts to improve energy efficiency across sectors.
Under our Special Economic Zone, we have issued the initial permit to explore the capability to install 150 Megawatts of floating solar panels.
Low emission development is not only serving to reduce carbon. We will be introducing modular housing for the first time. This will transform the construction industry with low emission, energy efficient, better use of material and technology.
However, as we continue to move forward, we must recognize that progress on climate action requires a collective effort.
Importantly, at this COP29, we must come together to agree on the Climate Finance goal.
By investing in green technologies and promoting low-carbon solutions, China is not only helping to reduce emissions, but also creating new economic opportunities.
In this vein, let me express my sincere gratitude to President Xi Jinping for his leadership and China’s assistance to the Maldives, especially in green and low-carbon development.
Excellencies,
Together, we can achieve our climate goals.
Together, we can protect our planet for future generations.
China’s leadership in this effort is a source of hope and inspiration.
The International Zero Carbon Island initiative is a critical step forward.
I thank you.