Flaws in the international financial system are forcing countries like the Maldives to take on heavy debt to protect their people and islands, President Dr. Muizzu has said.
The President made the remarks while speaking at a high-level meeting on the theme "The second decade of the Paris Agreement: accelerating access to and delivery of climate finance", held on the sidelines of the COP31 climate summit under way in Antalya, Türkiye.
President Dr. Muizzu said promises alone from world leaders are not enough, and that history will judge them by the practical results they deliver. He also called on countries to remain steadfast in implementing the Paris Agreement.
The President said the Maldives has for many years worked on projects eligible for financial assistance, built climate resilience into its development plans and advocated on the issue at the international level.
He noted that the impact of climate change on small island states is a plain and visible reality, and said climate funds must be easy to access and take into account the real circumstances of vulnerable countries.
At the meeting, the President also highlighted the importance of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for small island developing states, and welcomed the "Bridge" initiative launched to speed up the delivery of climate commitments.
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