Vice President Faisal Naseem has said that communal effort is vital to combatting climate change.

The Vice President made the statement at the launching event of Manta Festival 2019 at Eydhafushi Island of Baa Atoll on Friday.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice President said that Maldives’ most significant treasure is the diversity of its oceans and the natural beauty of the reefs and beaches. He said that the aesthetic beauty of the natural surroundings have superseded the extraction and sale of items for commercial benefit.

He said that the Maldives and its archipelago is among the islands most vulnerable to destruction from climate change. He emphasized the importance of creating awareness among the youth, especially school children on the surroundings and vulnerability to climate change.

Manta Festival is an annual event organized in the Maldives by a UK-based charity organization, Manta Trust, in association with the Biosphere Reserve Office in Baa Atoll.