The Maldives has renewed its call for accessible, predictable, and primarily grant-based climate finance for vulnerable nations, with Special Envoy for Climate Change Ali Shareef reiterating the country’s appeal to triple adaptation finance by 2030.

Delivering the Maldives’ national statement at the High-Level Segment of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Ali Shareef spoke on behalf of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. He conveyed the Maldives’ appreciation to the Government of Brazil for hosting the conference in the heart of the Amazon and noted that COP30 is taking place amid global uncertainty and on the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, underscoring the need to prove that multilateral cooperation can still deliver results.

The Special Envoy warned of the widening gap between climate ambition and action, stating that decades of negotiations have not put the world on track to meet the 1.5-degree goal. He highlighted the Maldives’ own leadership, recalling the submission of its enhanced Third Nationally Determined Contribution earlier this year, which strengthens emissions-reduction measures and supports climate-exposed sectors through 2035.

Ali Shareef also stressed that the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance must be advanced urgently and said adaptation must be treated as a global priority equal to mitigation.

Concluding his remarks, the Special Envoy stated that “For the vulnerable, survival is at stake. We negotiate to defend our present and our future. The Maldives stands ready to act, and we call on our partners to join us.”

COP30 has brought together world leaders and negotiators to advance key discussions on the New Collective Quantified Goal for climate finance, the balance between adaptation and mitigation, and the implementation of commitments made under the Paris Agreement. This year’s conference is also expected to push for stronger action on protecting ecosystems, with its Amazon setting giving added prominence to forests, biodiversity and community resilience.