President Visited By Executive Secretary Of UNFCCC

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa makes a courtesy visit to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Executive Secretary Patricia is in Maldives to participate in the ongoing Glasgow—Sharm el-Sheikh work program on the Global Goal on Adaptation that will take place in CROSSROADS Maldives.
 
Espinosa stated at the meeting that the Maldives is critical in climate adaptation discussions because the country has the credibility and authority to take the issue forward on a global scale. She also thanked the President for the Maldives' strong presence at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, last year, and emphasized the importance of island nations being at the forefront of the climate movement.
 
President Solih stated that access to finance was the Maldives' top adaptation priority, and that proper coastal protection would cost more than four times the annual national budget. He was joined at the meeting by Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology, Aminath Shauna, Special Envoy for Climate Change, Sabra Noordeen and Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change, and Technology, Khadeeja Naseem.