Former Minister Shauna appointed to UN Ocean Decade advisory board

Former Minister of Environment Aminath Shauna has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, an initiative focused on utilizing marine science to achieve global sustainable development goals.

Shauna confirmed that her appointment took place last week and announced that her two-year term will officially begin on January 1, 2026.

Managed under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the "Ocean Decade" plays a vital role for large ocean states like the Maldives that are heavily reliant on marine resources.

UNESCO-IOC announced that Shauna is among 10 new appointees selected for the 2025–2027 term from a highly competitive pool of nearly 200 nominations worldwide.

The advisory board consists of 15 members in total, including five returning members. Shauna brings over 15 years of experience in policy-making, climate action, and sustainable development to the board.

During her tenure as Minister under the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, she was instrumental in advancing national agendas for renewable energy, digital transformation, and environmental conservation.

Shauna’s tenure as minister includes significant milestones such as tripling the country’s solar energy investment, introducing the ban on single-use plastics, and launching a national program to protect ecologically rich areas.

Notably, she oversaw the "Nekton Mission," the most extensive deep-sea research project ever conducted in the Maldives.

On the international stage, she represented the Maldives at COP26 and COP27, where she played a key role in advocating for the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund for vulnerable nations.

Currently, Shauna serves as the Sustainability Advisor for Soneva Conservation and Sustainability Maldives and is a board member of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance.

An alumna of Westminster College in the United States, she holds a degree in Political Science and Government, Economics, and Environmental Science. Her appointment to the UN Advisory Board underscores her continued leadership in global ocean governance and climate resilience.