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Maldives’ Submits Its Third Nationally Determined Contribution to the UNFCCC

27 Feb 2025

The Maldives submits its Third Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will serve as the National Climate Action Plan, outlining goals towards increasing resilience and a low-emission development pathway in achieving the country’s sustainable development agenda.

The Maldives is among the first 17 countries and the fourth Small Island Developing State (SIDS) to submit its third NDC, underscoring the country’s leadership in international climate action. This submission reflects the country’s steadfast commitment to reducing national emissions, strengthening resilience, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The third NDC serves as a crucial step toward advancing the Maldives’ continued dedication to global climate action, while laying out the country’s climate vision for 2035.

The Maldives’ third NDC includes a more ambitious commitment to reduce emissions and strategies to increase adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change. The Maldives’ mitigation actions and targets demonstrate a strong commitment to transitioning toward low-carbon development, and is focused on enhancing energy security, improving the transport sector, and strengthening waste management systems to reduce emissions from these key sectors. The NDC’s emission reduction target is more ambitious compared to the previous NDCs submitted by the Maldives and represents an increase in the emissions reduced.The achievement of the target is conditional on receiving adequate support and financial resources, technology, capacity building, and other means of implementation in the context of sustainable development.

As one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, the Maldives prioritizes adaptation and resilience. In addition to the outlined mitigation efforts, this NDC includes economy-wide strategies to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability to climate impacts, building upon the goals set forth in the country’s first and second NDCs.

The NDC was prepared in close consultation with all relevant stakeholders, aligning its targets, goals, and strategies with national development needs and sectoral priorities, while maintaining the country’s continuous climate advocacy efforts.

Minister of Tourism and Environment, H.E. Mr. Thoriq Ibrahim emphasized the significance of this plan, stating, “The Maldives’ third NDC underscores our ambitious commitment to global mitigation and adaptation, while highlighting the essential role of international support in achieving these objectives. A key pillar of this NDC is a bold commitment to substantial emissions reductions, contingent upon essential international cooperation through climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building. Achieving these targets will not only safeguard the future of the Maldives, but also showcase the resilience and leadership that small island nations can demonstrate when supported by global partnerships.”

The Maldives’ third NDC represents a reflection of the nation’s unwavering resolve to safeguard its people, protect its environment, and contribute to a more sustainable future for generations to come.

The full report is available for download: