President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has emphasized the significance of the Climate Change Conference COP26 to the Maldives at a meeting with former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al Hussein.
Prince Zeid was last night appointed the advisor to the Maldivian delegation attending the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK).
The Maldivian delegation is led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as this is the first time in 12 years that a Maldivian leader is attending the climate change conference.
During the meeting, the President expressed sincere appreciation to Prince Zeid for his previous assistance to the Maldives in his capacity as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and expressed gratitude for the new partnership that they are embarking on.
He emphasized that climate change is a critical issue for the Maldives, stressing that the Maldives is a low-lying island nation where the effects of climate change are evident. In this regard, he underlined that COP26 is a significant summit for the Maldives.
Prince Zeid expressed his delight at the opportunity to support the Maldives and stated that he was privileged to join the Maldives delegation.
Also, President Solih and Prince Zeid discussed the current challenges small island developing states face in addressing climate catastrophe. They talked about how access to finance is one of the biggest challenges faced by small island states such as the Maldives, which are in dire need of extra assistance for building resilience and adapting to climate change. Further discussion was held on the Maldives' focus at COP26.
President Solih stated that the Maldives delegation is honored to have him advise them on climate change and expressed hope that this partnership will add great value to the efforts with his vast experience in the global community.
Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Peace Institute (IPI). Previously, Prince Zeid served as the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2014 to 2018 after a long career as a Jordanian diplomat, including as his country’s Permanent Representative to the UN (2000-2007 & 2010-2014) and Ambassador to the United States (2007-2010). He served on the UN Security Council, was a configuration chair for the UN Peace-Building Commission, and began his career as a UN Peacekeeper in the former Yugoslavia.
