President Mohamed Muizzu met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday on the sidelines of COP29, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Their discussions centred on the urgent climate financing needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and strategies for managing their escalating debt burdens.
During the meeting, Muizzu emphasised “the critical need for international financial support” for SIDS facing severe climate impacts, according to a statement from the President’s Office. He also expressed gratitude for the UN’s “ongoing advocacy” on behalf of small islands, which are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather.
Guterres reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the specific vulnerabilities of SIDS and noted efforts to engage international financial institutions in strengthening climate resilience. “The Secretary General emphasised the UN’s dedication to advancing these issues,” according to the statement.
Both leaders also pledged “continued collaboration on climate resilience and other development priorities.”