Shahid: We cannot wait and hope for a stabilized global temperature

The Maldives does not have the luxury to wait and hope for a stabilized global temperature, says Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid.

Minister Shahid made this remark at the Berlin Climate and Security Conference 2019, as a keynote speaker at the roundable discussion on "Climate Change, Migration and Displacement" held to mark the World Environment Day.

“Now, can we imagine a scenario, where the temperature rises to 2 degrees Celsius? It could result in a sea-level rise of 30 inches. This could put the very existence of the Maldives under threat. It could mean, the displacement of our entire population. It could mean the death of our nation,” said Minister Shahid.

Shahid said it is unimaginable to see the people of Maldives suffering from the unfortunate consequences of climate change and sea-level rise.

"Perhaps I cannot truly imagine the suffering of my people on that day; what it must have meant for them to lose everything they have ever worked for, the uncertainty of the future faced by their own children, and the gravity of the unfortunate consequences which awaited them. But I must emphasize here today, that it is important for all of us to try to imagine their tragedy, to try to imagine ourselves in the shoes of the people who endured such tragic loss and suffering," 

Shahid stated that the Maldives will always be at the forefront of global action against the negative effects of climate change and will be contributing to the upcoming High-level Climate Action Summit scheduled to be held in New York later this year.

"we will continue to listen to more speeches on the catastrophic impacts of climate change, with no action. We will continue to debate whether, “human displacement” or “human relocation” is the more appropriate term for us to use. We will continue to argue over, the length of the outcome documents of high-level Climate Summits. We will continue to fight over, who has a bigger responsibility to do more, to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change,"

Minister Shahid is visiting the Germany on an invitation by Foreign Minister of Germany, Heiko Maas.