Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations, Dr Ali Naseer, has stated that investment in resilience is the most crucial step in combating climate change.

In an interview with CGTN, Dr Naseer highlighted the Maldives' reliance on its fragile environment for tourism, noting that climate change poses significant threats to the nation’s ecosystems and economy.

Reflecting on the Maldives' long-standing advocacy for climate action, Dr Naseer referred to the 1989 'Small State Conference on Sea Level Rise' where the Maldives called for international support to address the damages caused by climate change.

He emphasised that financial constraints remain a key barrier for middle-income countries like the Maldives, making investments in resilience even more critical for sustainable development.

Additionally, Dr Naseer underscored the urgency of this by citing the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which exposed vulnerabilities in regional infrastructure and disaster preparedness.

In the aftermath, countries in the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives, established early warning systems and made significant infrastructure upgrades to better withstand future disasters.

He added that advancements in technology and early warning mechanisms have since become vital tools in reducing the damage caused by such events.