At COP29, President Mohamed Muizzu spoke as a representative of a country most threatened by climate change
At the COP29 summit held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 13, a grim picture of the effects of climate change emerged. As the delegates shared their thoughts, scientists said that, despite all the talk about mitigating climate change, another bump in greenhouse gas emissions had occurred.
Euro News reported that in 2024, the world is on track to emit 37.4 billion metric tonnes of the primary heat-trapping gas into the atmosphere. This represents a 0.8% increase from 2023. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most abundant and prevalent “greenhouse gas” emitted by human activity.
While carbon dioxide is essential for keeping the Earth’s surface temperature above freezing, an excess of it intensifies the “greenhouse effect,” which causes global temperatures to rise. Once emitted, carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for thousands of years, with 40% remaining after 100 years.
Methane is another potent but shorter-lasting greenhouse gas. It is the primary component of natural gas. In the first two decades after its release, methane is more than 80 times more effective at warming the climate system than carbon dioxide.
In 2023, both carbon dioxide and methane levels in the atmosphere reached record highs. The global concentration of carbon dioxide rose to an average of 419 parts per million, while methane rose to an average of 1,922 parts per billion.
UN reports state that the world must cut emissions by 42% by 2030 to have a chance of limiting warming to the internationally agreed-upon threshold of 1.5°C, as set at the 2015 climate talks in Paris.
Marginal Gains
This year’s pollution increase isn’t as large as last year’s 1.4% jump, scientists said while presenting the data at the UN climate talks in Azerbaijan (COP29). There is still no sign that the world has reached a peak in fossil fuel CO2 emissions. The world still has six years before surpassing the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels.
The Earth is already at 1.3°C, according to a United Nations study. Therefore, countries are clearly not doing enough on a global scale to reduce emissions, said Mike O’Sullivan, a climate scientist at the University of Exeter.
“We need to massively increase ambition and actually just think outside the box of how we can change things, not be so tied to fossil fuel interests,” he urged.
Biggest Carbon Emitters
According to the Global Carbon Project team, the four biggest carbon emitters are China, the United States, India, and Europe. China is the world’s biggest annual carbon polluter, accounting for 32% of global emissions. India accounts for 7%, with its carbon pollution jumping by 4.6% in 2024. The US was responsible for 13% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions in 2024. Europe accounted for 7% of global carbon pollution.
However, China’s emissions could drop to zero in the next two months and are “basically flat,” O’Sullivan said. Carbon emissions dropped in both the United States and the European Union. In the US, they fell by 0.6%, mainly due to reduced coal, oil, and cement use. Europe saw its carbon dioxide output drop by 3.8% from last year, driven by a significant cut in coal emissions.
Urgency in Maldives
One of the countries most threatened by climate change is the Maldives. It is also the world’s lowest-lying country, with its highest natural point just 2.4 metres above sea level. Today, one of the main problems for Maldivians is water, and it is likely to worsen with climate change.
While the northern islands face drinking water shortages during the dry season, from April to May, most southern islands face a different problem: flooding.
The UNDP is supporting the Maldives to ensure that the most vulnerable islands have year-round access to potable water and can cope with floods on their own.
Nearly half of the population lives in Malé, the capital, which covers less than 1.4 sq. km. The rest of the population is spread across 186 small, scattered islands. There are no rivers or streams on any of the islands. Except for Malé and a handful of other islands, most rely on rainwater for drinking. Islands affected by floods and shortages of potable water receive relief from Malé. However, transportation costs are high due to the Maldives’ scattered geography.
This makes emergency relief very expensive for a government already struggling economically. The danger is that climate change is expected to bring stronger storms and longer periods without rainfall. A rise in the ocean’s temperature and acidification has had devastating effects on coral reefs, affecting tourism and fisheries, both critical to the livelihoods of most Maldivians.
Damaged reefs also function less effectively as a first line of defence against sea swells and flooding. Until the 1990s, Maldivians used groundwater for drinking. However, over the past decade, the groundwater on most islands has become contaminated. The freshwater lenses of many islands were severely affected by the 2004 tsunami and poorly planned urbanisation.
As a result, today, rainwater, together with water produced through desalination and expensive bottled water, are the only potable options. Over the past ten years, the National Disaster Management Centre in Malé has had to send emergency shipments of water to about half of the 186 inhabited islands during the dry season. This is an expensive solution that sometimes takes up to two weeks to arrive. Most households have one 2,500-litre tank and fill it by collecting rainwater from their roofs. Larger families might even have two or three tanks, as one is often insufficient to last through the dry season.
Biosphere Reserve
UNESCO has designated certain areas as biosphere reserves. This designation sets up a “learning place for sustainable development,” a site for testing approaches to sustainably manage natural systems that conserve biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of climate change on local economies.
In 2011, UNESCO designated Baa Atoll, in central-western Maldives, as a biosphere reserve. Comprising 75 islands inhabited by 12,000 people dependent on tourism and fisheries, it supports one of the largest groups of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, which act as a conduit for the transport of “plankton,” essential for biodiversity to thrive and for reducing the impact of waves and storm surges. Plankton are tiny organisms that float in water and are carried by tides and currents. They are important for the health of the ocean and play a crucial role in the marine food chain.
Since its designation as a biosphere reserve, Baa Atoll’s sustainable ecotourism industry has flourished, hosting more than 350,000 tourists annually before COVID-19.
USAID helped assess ecologically sensitive areas and the recovery potential of coral reef ecosystems. To improve climate resilience, USAID supported government efforts to develop a management plan for one of the largest and most biologically diverse marine protected areas in the Maldives.
Maldives’ Suggestions at COP29
At the Leaders’ Summit of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on Climate Change, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 13 November, President Mohamed Muizzu emphasised that the current financial system does not provide SIDS with the necessary resources to address climate impacts, rendering their ambitious climate goals difficult to achieve.
He outlined three major issues for action to reshape the global financial architecture to better support SIDS. Addressing climate change requires coordinated support from various key players—including the UN, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, and the private sector.
The President said that traditional lending and debt models need rethinking. He proposed the concept of linking “debt forgiveness to the achievement of specific climate resilience milestones.” For example, a SIDS might see a portion of its debt forgiven if it reaches certain adaptation or emissions-reduction targets.
This approach could provide immediate financial relief and an incentive for SIDS to pursue climate goals, especially since high debt levels often prevent these nations from making necessary investments in resilience, Muizzu said.
He also called for a redefinition of creditworthiness, where a nation’s climate resilience efforts factor positively into its ability to secure funding, rather than relying solely on traditional economic indicators.
Muizzu urged COP29 to establish a new, more realistic climate finance goal that reflects the actual needs of SIDS. Current climate finance mechanisms often fall short of addressing the scale of funding required by SIDS to adapt to and mitigate climate change effects, he pointed out.
He sought discussions on establishing a “comprehensive international carbon market mechanism,” a platform that could allow countries to trade emissions reductions or offsets.
“Such a system, if well designed, could generate additional financial resources for SIDS and provide a new revenue stream for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts,” Muizzu said.