Maldives’ Special Envoy for Climate Change Ms Sabra Noordeen, on Wednesday, emphasised the importance of collective and collaborative work in order to safeguard Maldives’ marine resources for future generations. Ms Noordeen made this remark at an interactive meeting hosted by Noo Raajje programme, in partnership with the Local Government Authority (LGA), to confer information about marine spatial planning to local councillors.
While speaking virtually to councillors across Maldives, Ms Noordeen stated that the Noo Raajje programme aims to identify 20 per cent of Maldives’ oceans that can be conserved by compiling marine spatial plans backed by adequate scientific research and input from community stakeholders. She emphasised that “conserving”, or protecting these areas does not mean that people will be barred from utilizing these areas; but rather, it would aim to maintain the ecological significance of these areas while still allowing people to utilize them for economic and social purposes.
Reflecting how the pandemic had caused major economic challenges across the globe, including the Maldives, Ms Noordeen noted the renewed importance of decentralisation. She said that, in order to attain a sustainable economy, Maldives must protect its natural resources so that the country would be able to ensure food security as well as economic safety, in the long run.
Ms Noordeen also highlighted some of Maldives’ key climate ambitions, such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and increasing sustainable energy production. She noted that the government had already enacted the Climate Emergency Act in May 2021, which outlines the framework to achieve net-zero carbon emission by 2030. She further elaborated on the priority the Government has accorded to renewable energy. In the last 2 years solar panels have been established in 26 different islands, capable of generating a total of 2.86 megawatts of energy. The latter initiative has reduced Maldives’ carbon emission by 72,178 tonnes and saved up to MVR 147.80 million in oil imports to run power plants, Ms Noordeen said. Furthermore, she also noted the government’s aim to phase out Single Use Plastics by 2023, and the implementation of a ban on the import of high leakage single use products which was instigated in June 2021.
During Wednesday’s meeting, councillors shared their concerns and grievances regarding the existing land use plans and discussed prioritising environment management in a sustainable manner. Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture, Dr Hussein Rasheed Hassan; officials from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology and the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure; and officials from LGA and Noo Raajje had also taken part in this meeting.
Noo Raajje programme is a partnership between the Maldivian government and the Blue Prosperity Coalition, with the aim of protecting the ocean and its resources in order to build a better future for communities, the economy and the environment. The initiative was launched in December, 2020.