K. Male'
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16 Aug 2021 | Mon 17:34
COP26 UK Regional Ambassador to South Asia and Asia-Pacific, Ken O'Flaherty
COP26 UK Regional Ambassador to South Asia and Asia-Pacific, Ken O'Flaherty
RaajjeMV
UK COP26 Regional Ambassador
Failing to keep 1.5 degrees Celsius target could be catastrophic to Maldives: Ken O'Flaherty
 
"Action is not just for Maldives to take, rather for the world"
 
The ambassador expressed concern in having observed real impacts of climate change such as soil and sand erosion as well as rising tides in the Maldives islands
 
"We are pressing hard for strong results at COP26 and all nations to show real ambition"

While countries agreed to keep global temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius in the Paris Agreement at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) held in 2015, UK government's COP26 Regional Ambassador to South Asia and Asia-Pacific Ken O'Flaherty has said that failing to do so could be catastrophic to Maldives and the whole region.

O'Flaherty sat down for an exclusive interview with RaajjeTV during last week's visit to the Maldives where he met a number of government officials including Environment Minister Aminath Shauna and Maldives’ Special Envoy for Climate Change Sabra Noordeen.

Very clear that if we don’t keep that 1.5 degrees Celsius, target alive, then the consequences for people, for economies, for societies across this region particularly in the Maldives will be catastrophic"
Ken O'Flaherty, COP26 UK Regional Ambassador to South Asia and Asia-Pacific

The ambassador stated that Maldives still has hope, as a small island state that faces a real existential threat from climate change. However, he noted that that hope will disappear soon if there is not urgent action.

He noted that action is not just for Maldives to take, rather for the world and that COP26 is pressing hard for strong results, for all nations to show “real ambition” in driving down emissions.

I think there is hope, but I think that that hope will disappear soon, if there is not urgent action and of course the action is not just for the Maldives to take, the action is for the world to take and we are pressing hard for strong results at COP26 and all nations to show real ambition in driving down emissions whenever they come to that meeting"
Ken O'Flaherty, COP26 UK Regional Ambassador to South Asia and Asia-Pacific

He went on to note that there are things Maldives can do to maintain the hope, pointing out that there are known solutions for some of the problems Maldives is facing.

On his recent trip to Dhiffushi island in Kaafu atoll, the ambassador expressed concern in having observed real impacts of climate change such as soil and sand erosion as well as rising tides.

This argues for climate change and the environment to be at the center of this government and all future governments for the next three decades to be making sure this is their top priority in ensuring the citizens have their protection from these things"
Ken O'Flaherty, COP26 UK Regional Ambassador to South Asia and Asia-Pacific

The UK Regional Ambassador for COP26 also noted that they recognize Maldives will need support for this and expressed commitment to do everything to help mobilize the support for Maldives.

The ambassador noted that the voice of young people can be a real vector for change, and stated that Maldives has already shown leadership through the setting of domestic targets mainly the Net Zero Emissions target by 2030.

Last updated at: 1 year ago
Reviewed by: Aishath Shaany
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