Maldives National University (MNU) is to establish an institute to research climate change in Addu City.

Talks regarding the climate change institute were held between MNU and Addu City Council at the Addu City Council administration building. Both parties discussed establishing a two-storey building within the MNU Hithadhoo Campus complex, for the purpose of developing an MNU bookshop, administration offices and a few public commercial spaces on-campus.

In addition to this, Addu City Council also held negotiations with the Addu People's Cooperative (APC) to discuss the potential of using modern technological advances in furthering agricultural practices in Addu. Further, the groups touched down on establishing new hostel infrastructure for students studying at the MNU Hithadhoo complex to upgrade accommodation services within campus two, in addition to MNU announcing that they will be initiating tourism courses at the campus within the next year.

Further, the meeting saw the Addu City Council and MNU review the plan to build a multi-purpose hall at the MNU Hithadhoo Campus, which will allow MNU students to play sports such as futsal, netball, handball and basketball on campus. Both parties expressed ideas on how best to construct and utilize the multi-purpose hall, in addition to discussing an expansion project for shops situated within the city bazaar, along with developing other commercial spaces, a coffee shop and public toilets within the area.

At the meeting, MNU representatives announced that the university's environment department was looking to initiate courses based around climate change. Additionally, MNU revealed that a climate change resear5ch institute will be established in the Hithadhoo Campus in association with foreign universities, with work to develop the institute scheduled to begin in February this week.

Speaking as the meeting concluded, MNU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohamed Shareef said that the Maldives National University had designated Addu City as the venue for their 300th council meeting.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Addu City Council took part in this meeting with MNU, in addition to some councilors, with the MNU representatives led by the university's Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohamed Shareef. He was joined by MNU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Hussain Haleem and the Manager of the MNU Hithadhoo Campus Idhuham Fahmy.