His Excellency Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef has called for stronger international cooperation and increased climate finance to support vulnerable countries in addressing the growing challenges of climate mobility.
Delivering the opening statement at the High-Level Segment on the Climate Mobility Principles at the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum 2026, the Vice President noted that climate change is shaping the lives of Maldivians, the future of the country's islands, and its development pathways, emphasising that climate mobility is not a matter for the distant future but an urgent reality requiring sustainable solutions.
The Vice President highlighted the Maldives' continued investments in safer, more climate-resilient islands, including coastal protection, resilient infrastructure, and adaptation across multiple sectors. He cited Hulhumalé as a key example of climate-resilient urban development, noting that Ras Malé builds on this approach to create long-term solutions that enhance human security and economic opportunity.
He stressed that climate mobility efforts should prioritise resilience, prevention, and expanding opportunities for communities to remain safely in their homes, and noted that any movement of people should be planned, voluntary, and dignified.
The Vice President underscored the importance of adequate and accessible climate finance, stressing that vulnerable countries cannot address these challenges alone. He called on development partners to increase concessional and grant-based financing, technology transfer, and capacity building tailored to the needs of small island developing states.
Concluding, the Vice President welcomed the Climate Mobility Principles and reaffirmed the Maldives' support for people-centred, rights-based approaches, emphasising that principles must be accompanied by concrete action to ensure affected communities can build resilient futures.