On Monday, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih underscored the government’s commitment to transforming the Maldives into an environmentally conscious nation by prioritizing the production of sustainable energy through renewable sources and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
President Solih’s remarks were delivered during the official ceremony held on Ukulhas Island in the Alifu Alifu Atoll, commemorating World Environment Day 2023.
In his address, President Solih highlighted the notable achievements of his administration in advancing renewable energy sources and emphasizing eco-friendly energy generation. He acknowledged significant progress towards the ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2023.
Over the past four years, the government has effectively expanded solar panel electricity generation by 36 megawatts. President Solih emphasized that these initiatives have resulted in substantial savings of 17 million liters of fossil fuel, equivalent to MVR 270 million. Notably, projects for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems are currently underway on 113 islands across the country.
President Solih also addressed crucial environmental concerns facing the nation, such as waste management, the pervasive use of single-use plastics, and the urgent challenge of climate change.
He emphasized the government’s unwavering dedication to promoting sustainable waste management practices and reducing dependence on single-use plastics. The administration has implemented a comprehensive plan to phase out 13 categories of single-use plastics, successfully reducing imports of such materials by 50 percent. These endeavors clearly demonstrate the administration’s commitment to addressing significant environmental issues related to waste management and single-use plastics within the country.
Regarding climate change, President Solih acknowledged the necessity of adapting to and mitigating its impact, recognizing it as a significant challenge. He outlined the allocation of funds from the Maldives Green Fund for targeted projects focused on environmental protection, conservation, human resource development, institutional strengthening, and research and development.
The President also emphasized the administration’s consideration of providing support to non-governmental organizations through the fund, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering relevant initiatives.
As part of the event, the top three videos created for a competition centered around the World Environment Day theme of “Beat Plastic Pollution” were showcased. World Environment Day has been commemorated annually on June 5th since 1972, and this year marks its 50th anniversary.
