Climate vulnerability should shape financial assistance, says President

Financial assistance for small island states should take into account climate vulnerability in addition to income levels, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said.

Speaking at a high-level roundtable held on the sidelines of COP31, the President said development and climate action were inseparable for small island developing states. He stressed the need for climate finance to be made more accessible and responsive to the realities faced by vulnerable island nations.

The President noted that the adverse impacts of climate change on small island states were well established. Despite years of efforts to integrate climate considerations into development planning and strengthen international advocacy, weaknesses in the global financial architecture continued to place disproportionate burdens on vulnerable countries, he said.

He warned that countries such as the Maldives should not be forced into unsustainable borrowing to protect their people, infrastructure and islands from the effects of climate change. The President has repeatedly used his engagements at COP31 to advocate for reforms to the international financial system and to call for climate finance mechanisms that better reflect the vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States.

Emphasising that these challenges could not be addressed by vulnerable nations alone, the President called for stronger international cooperation and collective action to confront the climate crisis in a swift and sustainable manner.

He also urged countries to remain committed to implementing the Paris Agreement, stressing that progress should be measured through concrete action rather than political pledges alone.

Highlighting efforts underway in the Maldives, the President mentioned Hulhumale' as an elevated island and described Rasmale' as a strategic national asset developed to enhance the country's resilience to climate change. He said ongoing development in the city has been designed with sustainability in mind, including measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions and supporting environmentally responsible urban growth.

The President further stressed that climate adaptation should be embedded in national development planning rather than treated solely as a response to disasters. He also reiterated the need for developing countries to receive climate adaptation financing on concessional and accessible terms.