Government and UNDP Sign multi-million dollar project to reinforce Climate Change Adaptation

“This is not an abstract matter or some vague possibility far off in the future.  Rather, the risk is real, with impacts today that are accelerating and outpacing forecasts,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warning of the threats from the rising sea levels and extreme weather that are associated with climate change.

Male’, December 3, 2009: Rapid coastal erosion and increased vulnerability among island populations are just some of the severe impacts caused by Climate Change in Maldives. To combat these challenges, the Ministry of Housing, Environment and Transport and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a project today to implement the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) that will put in place safer measures to promote sustainable human development and reduce vulnerability.

The four-year initiative, called ‘Integrating Climate Change Risks into Resilient Island Planning in the Maldives’ will enable the Government to systematically assess the costs and benefits of different adaptation options in land use planning and coastal protection and develop the necessary institutional and individual capacity at national, provincial, atoll and island levels to implement the same in a decentralized and participatory decision-making environment. The US$9.3million partnership, funded together with the Global Environment Facility, will commence January 2010 and is expected to be completed in March 2014.

Presiding at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Housing, Environment and Transport, Hon. Mr. Mohamed Aslam, reiterated the government’s commitment to combat Climate Change and stated that the assistance of UNDP will support the government in its efforts to build resilient island communities.

Emphasizing that climate change adaptation and mitigation is an important pillar in the Government’s priority, as highlighted in the Strategic Action Plan, Mr. Arun Kashyap, UNDP Officer-in-Charge, stated UNDP is fully committed to supporting the government to achieve its vision of reduced carbon emissions while strengthening the adaptive capacity of the local population.

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UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, including the Maldives, helping identify and implement solutions to global and national development challenges.