Maldives Leads as Chair of UN ESCAP Committee on Environment and Development
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Climate Change
Hon. Ali Shareef, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, has been elected Chair of the Ninth Session of the UN ESCAP Committee on Environment and Development, held from 1–3 July 2026 in Bangkok.
The Committee is the region’s primary forum for environmental cooperation, bringing together ministers, government representatives, and experts to address intensifying heatwaves, worsening air pollution, accelerating biodiversity loss, and the growing impacts of climate change.
Key agenda items include:
- Stocktaking and strategic outlook on regional cooperation for environment and development.
- Clean air initiatives.
- Sustainable water management and resilience against climate-induced challenges.
- Adoption of the Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific, 2026, and the Regional Programme of Action on Synergies for Sustainable Development.
“The Maldives is proud to chair this session at a pivotal moment for our region. We call for stronger ambition, deeper cooperation, and integrated solutions to keep 1.5°C alive and ensure no one is left behind.”