President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih arrived in Glasgow, Scotland for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) on Saturday morning.

The president, and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed were welcomed at the Newcastle International Airport by senior officials of the UK government including the Lord Mayor of Newcastle Habib Rahman as well as High Commissioner of Maldives to UK Dr. Farahanaz Faizal.

Accompanied by a high-level delegation of government officials including the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna and the Special Envoy for Climate Change, Sabra Ibrahim Noordeen, the president departed to Scotland from UAE on Friday.

During his trip, the Maldivian president is scheduled to deliver the National Statement at the conference and participate in several high-level summits and discussions during COP26.

President Solih will also engage in discussions with state leaders during bilateral meetings.

The president is also joined by Speaker Nasheed who departed from Maldives on Friday morning.

A major event for Maldives, COP26 is a great opportunity to address the country’s sustainable development plans on the global stage. As such, the incumbent administration has been vocal in the fiscal strain and climate vulnerabilities faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during preceding global forums.

It is also to be noted that the Maldives has announced an ambitious plan to achieve Net Zero by 2030.

Hosted by the United Kingdom in collaboration with Italy, COP26 brings parties together to fast-track action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Over 190 leaders across the globe will participate in the summit, scheduled to begin on Sunday. The summit will proceed until November 12.