05 June 2014, Male'; The President of Maldives, His Excellency Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, in his message on the occasion of World Environment Day 2014, has called for timely global action in addressing climate change.
Quoting from the findings of the Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the President emphasized that changes in climate have caused impacts on natural and human systems on all continent and across the oceans.
"The quantity and quality of water resources are being affected. Climate change is negatively impacting crop yields as well. Impacts from recent climate-related extremes reveal significant vulnerabilities and expose some ecosystems and many human systems to current climate vulnerability. At the forefront of those facing the effects of climate change are communities living in the world's low-lying regions and small island states", the President highlighted.
Elaborating on the theme of this year's Environment Day, "Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level", President Yameen welcomed the special focus which will be afforded to small island nation states such as the Maldives, particularly in line with the United Nations designating 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States.
He also noted that the threats posed by sea level rise were initially brought to global attention by Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The President further noted that the Maldives has, from 1987 onwards, been championing worldwide awareness and action against environmental degradation.
ENDS.