The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Patricia Espinosa, has made a courtesy call on President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The meeting took place at the President’s Office on Tuesday afternoon.

At the meeting, the Executive Secretary stated that the Maldives plays an essential role in climate adaptation discussions as the country has the credibility and the authority to take the issue forward on the global front.

And she expressed gratitude to the President for the strong presence shown by Maldives at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) last year in Glasgow, Scotland, and emphasized the importance of island nations being at the forefront of the climate movement.

During the meeting, President Solih stated that the highest priority for the Maldives in the area of climate adaptation was access to finance and noted that proper coastal protection would cost more than four times the annual national budget.

The President was accompanied at the meeting by the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Aminath Shauna; the Special Envoy for Climate Change, Sabra Noordeen; and the Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Khadeeja Naseem.

The Executive Secretary of UNFCCC is currently in the Maldives to participate in the ongoing Glasgow—Sharm el-Sheikh work program on the Global Goal on Adaptation. The meeting is held at Cross Roads Resorts .