Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef has emphasised the need for immediate global action on climate change.

He stated that climate disasters do not wait for political negotiations, intensifying storms are not bound by economic cycles, and rising temperatures recognise no borders.

He made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the Climate Change Forum, held on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2025.

During his speech, the Vice President stressed that mitigating climate impacts and managing crises require proactive leadership. He highlighted the importance of major economies aligning their actions and fulfilling their climate commitments, noting that global stability depends on collective trust rather than isolated national efforts.

He further stated that climate considerations should be integrated into all Government decisions, with the environmental impact being a primary factor in policy-making across social, economic, and financial sectors.

The Vice President also addressed the specific challenges the Maldives has faced due to climate change, describing the issue as an immediate national priority. He reaffirmed the Maldivian Government’s commitment to mitigating these impacts through concrete measures, referencing the ambitious target announced by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu at COP28. The Maldives aims to generate 33 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2028.

To support this transition, he outlined initiatives, including the Energy Roadmap 2024–2033, which focuses on expanding renewable energy infrastructure, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and enhancing national energy security. He emphasised that these measures are critical to ensuring long-term environmental and economic stability for the Maldives.

Beyond national efforts, the Vice President urged the international community to shift from making pledges to taking decisive action. He stated that while commitments are necessary, they must be followed by tangible implementation to address the accelerating impacts of climate change.

The forum was attended by several high-level officials, including Her Excellency Amna Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, and His Excellency Max Andonirina Fontaine, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Madagascar.

The Vice President was joined by a high-level delegation from the Maldivian Government.