President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that building climate resilience demands economic resilience and, as such, the Maldives has taken significant steps in securing this goal. He made the statement in his official message for “World Ocean Day”.
In his message, the President said that sustaining the oceans was a lived reality for the Maldives and Maldivians. The seas, he said, was a lifeline for the nation, driving our economy, shaping our culture and the bedrock for our national identity.
These aspects, he added, were under significant risk due to climate change, which is warming our waters, bleaching our reefs, and altering the migration of fish stocks. He said that for a nation such as the Maldives, these represent urgent economic realities.
In his message the President highlighted the actions the nation has taken to protecting the oceans. He highlighted initiatives to restore coral ecosystems and reduction of plastic footprint, along with sustainability measures in diversifying the economy were some of the measures taken. The President said that creation of new opportunities in science, renewable energy, smarter fisheries, and exploring what the ocean has to offer, as well as innovation were the way forward.
As such, he pledged investment into research, technology, the power of new products from waste that once carried no value, in automation that drives efficiency, and in packaging that we can design and build in the Maldives.
The President concluded his message by appealing to all to be guardians and educators about the oceans. The President also issued a post on social media platform X to mark the day.