President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has attended a VVIP reception for world leaders hosted by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Boris Johnson.

The reception saw over 120 heads of government and heads of state, gathered at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom and was held on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26).

This marks the first time a Maldivian leader is joining the climate change conference, in the span of 12 years.

Accompanied by a high-level delegation of government officials including the Speaker of Parliament and Former President Mohamed Nasheed, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna and the Special Envoy for Climate Change, Sabra Ibrahim Noordeen, the president arrived in Glasgow, Scotland on October 31.

During his trip, the Maldivian president is scheduled to participate in several high-level summits and discussions.

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

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.