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Minister Shahid calls for International Support to Expedite Progress in achieving Water Related Goals

18 March 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid today delivered a pre-recorded statement at the High-level meeting on the Implementation of the Water-related Goals and Targets of the 2030 Agenda. The meeting was organized by the President of the General Assembly, to promote the implementation of the water related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda in support of the implementation of the Decade on Water and Sustainable Development (2018-2028) and the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF).

In his statement, Minister Shahid highlighted that countries are currently off-track to meet the targets of SDG 6 as some 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, and by 2030, 700 million people will be displaced due to water scarcity. Furthermore, he said that given the scarcity, ensuring clean water and sanitation for all Maldivians is guaranteed by our Constitution, and is a key priority of the current government. He also specifically highlighted the climate crisis exacerbates stressors on water, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the perilous importance of adequate access to safe water and sanitation for prevention and containment of diseases.

Minister Shahid stressed on the need for actively seeking new financing models combining ODA, and public and private capital to reduce investment risks and that this must be coupled with capacity building for developing countries. Before concluding, he also reiterated that Maldives stands ready to work with all stakeholders to implement the Decade's objectives as water sustains life, and it is necessary towards achieving a number of other goals, and the 2030 Agenda.

Following this High-level meeting, the President of the General Assembly will prepare a summary of discussions which will be transmitted to the 2021 High-Level Political for Forum on sustainable development, and the UN Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Water Action Decade.