On the sidelines of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih joined the Roundtable Discussion on Island Climate Priorities on Tuesday.

Special Envoy for Climate Change Sabra Ibrahim Noordeen accompanied the Maldivian president at the Roundtable Discussion.

The roundtable saw discussions revolving around the delivery of key messages including the alignment to 1.5 Degree Celsius target, climate financing, loss and damage as well as the urgency of support needed for adaptation.

During the discussion, those who took part expressed renewed hope owing to the fact that voices of small distant islands are no longer lone voices.

The expected deliverables of the COP26 summit were also discussed at the roundtable.

As a strong advocate for action on climate change as well as encouraging Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to present unique challenges they face, Maldives plays a key role in the international arena.

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.

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