Newest govt. legislature designed to form a national council on climate change

The government has submitted legislature designed to establish a national council on climate change mandatory, and a fund which will be utilized to run projects designed to minimize the effects of climate change and conduct research into the field.

The legislature, Climate Change Bill, was submitted to the Parliament on behalf of the government by Gaddhoo MP Ahmed Zahir.

The legislature is designed to establish the legal framework, administrative framework, and policies necessary for Maldives to protect itself from the effects of climate change.

It establishes measures to prioritize climate action in developing and achieving developmental goals, and to make Maldives a low emission nation.

It charges the Environment Ministry with formulating long-term and mid-term plans on climate action, and a national action plan on climate change.

It charges the President with the responsibility of establishing a national council on climate change within 30 days of the legislature’s enactment.

The national council will be charged with the responsibility of advising the Environment Ministry on drafting and implementing national policies and regulations on climate action. The scope of the areas where the council will be allowed to advice the Environment Ministry includes formulating climate action plans, implementation of measures to meet the goals Maldives is required to achieve as part of the international resolutions it is party to, and review and amendment of laws, regulations and policies of all areas linked with climate change.

The council will be composed of 11 members. They are:

• A senior Environment Ministry official
• A senior official from the government institute charged with enforcing matters of public finance and treasury
• An official from the government institute charged with enforcing matters of national development
• An official from the government institute charged with enforcing economic policies
• An official from the government institute charged with enforcing tourism industry policies
• An official from the government institute charged with enforcing fisheries policies
• An official from the government institute charged with enforcing agricultural policies
• An official from the government institute charged with enforcing policies on management of local councils
• A person selected by Environment Minister from among applicants who offer to be on the council as a representative of the people
• A representative from among civil society organizations engaged in promoting environmental protection
• A representative from among educators and/or researchers in the field of environmental protection

CLIMATE ACTION FUND

The legislature requires the establishment of a fund on climate change within 60 days of the legislature’s enactment.

The President is required to establish a board to act as trustees within 30 days of the fund’s establishment.

The three-member board must be composed of:

• A senior official from the government institute charged with enforcing environmental and climate action policies
• A senior official from the government institute charged with enforcing public finance and treasury policies
• A senior official from the government institute charged with national developmental policies

The legislature states that the fund must hold the money it receives as part of the resources allocated to it to serve the purposes established in the legislature, and the donations it receives to serve the purposes established in the legislature.

The fund must be utilized solely for projects designed to reduce or combat the effects of climate change, create awareness and conduct research.

The trustees are required to seek counsel from the national council on climate change.