The Maldives is actively participating in the 28th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya.
Running from 27 July to 1 August, the high-level meeting is pivotal in shaping global environmental policy ahead of the upcoming CBD COP-17 Summit.
According to the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, the primary objective of the Nairobi meeting is to formulate scientific and technical guidelines, assess the progress of the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and draft technical recommendations to strengthen national monitoring and reporting systems worldwide.
For the Maldives, a nation at the frontline of climate change, the meeting serves as a critical platform to advocate for the rights and unique vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The Ministry of Environment highlighted that the Maldives’ chief objective is to secure dedicated, guaranteed seats for small island nations within the technical expert groups established to drive the Convention’s work. The Ministry emphasised that this representation is a vital step toward ensuring environmentally sensitive nations have a direct voice in global decision-making processes.
In addition to securing institutional representation, the Maldivian delegation is pushing for the specific challenges and conservation goals of small island nations to be formally integrated into the review processes of global environmental protection efforts. The Maldives is also calling for targeted international assistance to enhance the scientific monitoring and reporting capacities of smaller island states, which often face resource constraints.
Additionally, the Maldives is advocating for global environmental policies to be strictly rooted in scientific evidence, urging that such critical scientific data and findings be made transparently and readily accessible to all nations, regardless of their size or wealth.
The Ministry underscored that the meeting in Kenya represents a crucial opportunity to safeguard the interests of the Maldives and other island nations, aligning with the government's broader strategic goal to expand the country's leadership and influence in the international environmental arena.