Emergency committee meeting held due to increased reports of coastal erosion
The meeting was also attended by Speaker of Parliament, Former President Mohamed Nasheed
The 19th Parliament Committee on Environment and Climate Change
The 19th Parliament Committee on Environment and Climate Change has held an emergency meeting due to increased reports of coastal erosion around the country.
The meeting was also attended by Speaker of Parliament, Former President Mohamed Nasheed who revealed that the meeting was called due to increased reports of coastal erosion and that the meeting intends to assist the state in identifying all possible avenues to address the erosion.
He further stated that the committee is not trying to suggest that climate change is the sole culprit behind the erosion, adding that human activities may also be a factor. Moreover, while highlighting that the Maldives is a middle-income country and lacks resources to tackle climate change, he urged the international community to also address the issue.
The meeting also featured a presentation of pictures depicting erosion in multiple islands around the country that were shared with the parliament by concerned parties and island councils. The pictures showed an alarming rate of erosion within a short period of time. These islands included several islands of Baa atoll and Raa atoll.
Likewise, the chairman of the committee, MP for Hoarafushi constituency, Ahmed Saleem highlighted that uninhabited islands were also experiencing erosion at a high rate that has never been seen before.
While pictures of beach erosion in Addu-Meedhoo were also featured in the presentation, Speaker Nasheed highlighted that erosion has resulted in saltwater intruding into the mangroves, potentially damaging them as well.
Some other islands experiencing erosion featured in the presentation include Noonu atoll Fodhdhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu atoll Nadellaa, and Haa Alif Atoll Vashafaru.
Almost all members of the committee noted that the strong winds that normally precede the early north-east monsoon were extremely intense this year in comparison to previous years.
As such, a total of four resolutions were agreed upon at the committee meeting. They include bringing international attention to coastal erosion, identifying the measures taken by the relevant ministries and authorities regarding the matter, summoning the minister of environment to parliament for clarification regarding the matter, and compiling a research report detailing the extent of the erosion to be presented to parliament.
