President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced a national drive to plant five million trees across the Maldives.
The President made this announcement while delivering the Maldives' National Statement at the High-Level Segment of the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
While addressing the world leaders at the conference, President Muizzu underscored the top priority of enhancing the country's resilience. He emphasized the intrinsic value of every natural resource in the Maldives, pointing out that the loss of these resources would not only affect the economy but the entire nation as a whole.
President Muizzu underscored the importance of sustainable ecosystems, expressing optimism that the Loss and Damage Fund would effectively serve its purpose and be readily accessible to those in need.
Highlighting his role as a global citizen, President Muizzu acknowledged a shared responsibility to the planet. He further urged cooperation to ensure that "each action yields tangible results."
Besides the announcement to plant trees nationwide, President Muizzu further revealed the government's commitment to developing renewable energy systems capable of providing 33 percent of the nation's electrical needs within the next five years.
President Muizzu highlighted that the country presently supplies 4 percent of its electricity through renewable energy. He added that the Maldives aims to generate a minimum of USD 600 million to accomplish its goal of expanding renewable energy provision nationwide. Furthermore, he called for global support in this ambitious endeavor.