UN and Maldives Partners Advance Blue Carbon Finance to Tackle Climate and Economic Challenges

Malé, 11 May 2025 – The United Nations, in partnership with the Government of Maldives and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), today launched a capacity-building workshop on Blue Carbon Finance. The workshop, co-organized with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the Ministry of Finance and Planning, marks a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to leverage its marine ecosystems to address climate change and support sustainable development.

Opening the event, interim UN Resident Coordinator in Maldives, Mr. Niels Scott, emphasized the urgency and potential of blue carbon ecosystems—mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs—which store more carbon per square metre than tropical forests and serve as critical natural infrastructure protecting the islands from sea-level rise, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining key sectors like fisheries and tourism.

“This is not just about climate—it’s about sovereignty, security, and sustainable livelihoods,” Mr. Scott noted. “Blue carbon finance offers a pathway to reduce emissions, unlock new sources of funding, and strengthen community resilience.”

The workshop builds on momentum from the Asia-Pacific Blue Economy Forum held in Malé in 2024, which mobilized over USD 500,000 for MSMEs and underscored the need for blended finance, public-private partnerships, and results-based mechanisms to close the region’s USD 5.5 trillion blue financing gap.

ESCAP’s accelerator approach and broader UN support under the UN80 reform agenda are central to helping Maldives scale its ambition while ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth. Initiatives such as low-emission hybrid vessels, youth-led conservation programmes, and the establishment of Maldives’ first legally recognized Community Conserved Area reflect the UN’s continued commitment to climate action and marine stewardship.

As Maldives targets net-zero emissions by 2030, the workshop highlights the country’s leadership and the need for stronger national and international collaboration to deliver on its vision.

ENDS

For further information, please contact: 

Najma Abdulla, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, phone: 9966167, email: najma.abdulla@un.org