We gather in this hall today, as some of the most climate-vulnerable nations on Earth.
We are vulnerable because climate change threatens to hit us first; and hit us hardest.
And we are vulnerable because we have modest means with which to protect ourselves from the coming storm.
We are a diverse group of countries.
But we share one common enemy.
For us, climate change is no distant or abstract threat; but a clear and present danger to our survival.
Climate change is melting the glaciers in Nepal.
It is causing flooding in Bangladesh.
It threatens to submerge the Maldives and Kiribati Continue reading “I refuse to believe that it is too late, and that we cannot do any better. Copenhagen is our date with destiny.” states President Nasheed
Your Excellency President Nasheed, Your Excellency President Anote Tong, Excellencies, Distinguished Ministers, ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the inauguration of the Climate Vulnerable Forum.
First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all dignitaries for accepting our invitation to participate in this important event. I would also like to convey my special thanks to H.E. Mr. Anote Tong, President of Kiribati, for honoring us with his presence.
You may be wondering: why you? The countries represented in this room are from different regions; some are continental and some are island nations; some are threatened by rising seas, others by the encroaching desert; some are big, others are small. And yet we all have something in common.
Continue reading “we will try to discern a common vision and a common message that we can take together to COP15 and beyond.” states Minister Aslam
31 October 2009, Male’; The Government of Maldives will host a high-level climate change summit to highlight the impact of climate change on vulnerable states from 9-10 November 2009, in Bandos Island Resort, Republic of Maldives.
This meeting will be an important gathering of Heads of States and Government of a geographic selection of ‘climate vulnerable states” and their representatives, and will be the first of its kind to draw attention to the specific challenges, adaptation and green development needs of the most vulnerable states to global climate change.
The Forum is aimed at developing a consensus to amplify the voices of these countries, and will result in a Declaration that will be presented at the Copenhagen UNFCCC COP15. It is anticipated that this declaration will form a valuable contribution for successful conclusion of negotiations at the Copenhagen conference.
Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, Kenya, Vietnam, Kiribati, Rwanda, Ghana, Barbados, Bhutan, Tanzania.
Prominent experts and well-known personalities in the global climate change debates are also expected to attend, while a number of other countries have been invited as Observers to the Forum.
ENDS.