The Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Ali Shareef, has called for urgent international assistance to protect the nation’s vital seagrass, mangrove and meadow habitats, warning that these blue‑carbon ecosystems are essential to the country’s survival and economic prosperity.
Speaking at the Blue Carbon Side Event on the margins of the 9th meeting of the UN Committee on Environment and Development in Bangkok, Minister Ali Shareef highlighted the critical role of these natural carbon environments.
According to the Minister, seagrass, mangroves and meadows are not only among the most efficient carbon‑absorbing environments on the planet, they also shield Maldives’ islands from rising sea levels, sustain biodiversity, and support key industries such as tourism and fisheries.
The Minister outlined a series of domestic initiatives underway in the Maldives, including expanded protected areas, climate‑change mitigation projects that leverage natural solutions, and research into sustainable blue‑carbon management. Despite these efforts, Minister Ali Shareef stressed that the scale of the challenge far exceeds what the island nation can achieve alone.
He asserted that international assistance and solidarity are indispensable, urging greater regional cooperation to secure financing, harmonise carbon‑measurement standards, and empower communities that depend on healthy coastal ecosystems.