Ken O'Flaherty, the UK government’s COP26 Regional Ambassador to Asia-Pacific and South Asia has conducted several fruitful meetings as part of his ongoing visit to the Maldives.

The UK diplomat arrived in the Maldives on an official visit on Monday, and will be ending his three-day trip on Wednesday.

The enthusiastic ambassador tweeted hopes to explores ways through which work may be conducted together to build the pressure for Climate Action ahead of the COP26 summit, slated for November, to be held in Glasgow, UK. He noted that the trip aims to develop UK Presidency’s collaboration with Maldives, which faces a “real existential threat” from climate change.

So far, O'Flaherty has met with the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, as well as the Minister of Environment and Energy, Aminath Shauna, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel, a group of climate activists among the youth community of the island nation and several others.

During his call with Minister Mausoom, discussions were held on environmental protection and sustainable practices in the tourism industry of Maldives. The ambassador expressed pleasure in learning that the island nation’s “Fifth Tourism Master Plan” will deliver the new framework for regulating sector and reducing its carbon footprint, which the ambassador revealed is a crucial aspect to ensure Maldives delivers its’ ambitious target for Net Zero by 2030.

Further sitting down with the Minister of Environment, Ambassador O'Flaherty engaged in talks regarding the country’s road to Net Zero 2030, ocean climate as well as the upcoming COP26.

The UK Diplomat was briefed on Maldives’ aim to publish a Net Zero Emissions Plan ahead of the COP26 in November. This, O'Flaherty said will enlighten the details on practical steps required for the island nation to implement its Net Zero Emissions target by 2030.

Special Envoy for Climate Change Sabra Noordeen joined the meeting.

He also joined State Minister Khaleel at the Foreign Ministry where he shed light on the Maldives' climate ambitions for COP26 as well as the bilateral and multilateral cooperation to achieve the island nation’s Net Zero 2030 target.

Similar discussions were held during a meeting the Regional Ambassador had with the Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam upon arrival on Monday.

During the meeting with the young climate activists of the Maldives, Ambassador O'Flaherty highlighted that the voice of youth, is a “powerful” vector for change.

He went on to reveal that it is useful to hear about key challenges they face and the invaluable work being done to deliver “real” progress ahead as well as beyond COY16 and COP26.