President Muizzu: Low-carbon development no longer a choice, but a necessity

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has emphasized low-carbon development as a necessity at present rather than a choice given the worsening impacts of climate change. 

He made the remark at the launching of International Zero Carbon Island initiative organized by Shandong Province, China, on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The President described the initiative as a crucial step forward in the global push for climate action. He acknowledged President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government's commitment to green and low-carbon development, as well as their continued support for the Maldives’ environmental efforts. Noting China’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, he praised it as an inspiring example of leadership and commended China’s role in advancing global climate action.

Speaking further, President Muizzu stressed that low-carbon development as a necessity at present rather than a choice given the worsening impacts of climate change. 

“Our planet is at a tipping point. The need to reduce emissions and protect our environment has never been more urgent,” he stressed.

The President underscored that Maldives and other vulnerable nations are determined to be active leaders in driving a sustainable future, rather than merely victims of climate change.

“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,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation in achieving the safe and sustainable future everyone is striving for, by learning from one another and sharing our experiences to build more resilient communities.

As such, he described the International Zero Carbon Island initiative launched as a hopeful step forward in this trajectory.

President Muizzu expressed confidence that the forward-thinking, low-carbon policies implemented the islands of Yantai under the initiative will provide valuable insights and serve as a model for the Maldives and other island nations striving for sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change. 

He concluded his remarks by calling on COP29 countries to come together to agree on a climate finance goal, citing climate change requires collective efforts.

Following the launching event, President Muizzu and Vice Premier of China Ding Xuexiang held a brief meeting where they discussed further strengthening cooperation.