Maldives Environment Minister Ali Shareef has called for an urgent increase in international financial support to address land degradation issues in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Speaking at the “Finance Day” of the High-Level Segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Minister highlighted the unique environmental vulnerabilities faced by archipelago nations.

Minister Shareef emphasized that the land degradation challenges faced by island nations are fundamentally different from those in arid regions, making existing international frameworks insufficient. He noted that coastal erosion and the salinization of groundwater tables are escalating threats that demand specialized attention and funding.

During his address, the Minister criticized current international financial mechanisms for failing to prioritize the specific needs of low-lying islands. He urged the global community to establish more accessible financial systems for SIDS and advocated for the expansion of “Blue-Green” finance tools designed to address the unique ecological contexts of island states.