The Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Maldives serves as the National Climate Action Plan, while outlining the goals towards increasing resilience and a low-emission development pathway in achieving the country’s sustainable development agenda. It emphasizes the unique vulnerabilities of Maldives as a low-lying island nation as it further advances the commitment to global climate action and sets out the country’s vision for 2035. The Maldives is committed to reduce 1.52 million tonnes of CO2eq in 2035, conditional on receiving adequate international support and financial resources, technology, capacity building, and other means of implementation in the context of sustainable development. Maldives is actively working towards achieving the goals outlined in the previous NDCs, as also this NDC. These goals include actions towards scaling of renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, waste management and efficient transport systems.
The NDC also provides for sector-specific adaptation strategies and actions. For sustainable agriculture and food security, the strategies include strengthening agribusiness, promoting self-sufficiency in key crops, capacity building, climate-smart practices like hydroponics, vertical farming, and improved irrigation systems. Water security is aimed to be addressed through increasing the access to safe potable water, promotion of integrated water resources management, development and implementation of water security plans, building capacity of water and sanitation service providers, protection of water bodies, and developing emergency water supply planning. Further, strategies are laid down in respect of infrastructure resilience, public health, coastal protection, safeguarding coral reefs and biodiversity, tourism, fisheries, early warning systems, disaster risk reduction and management, financing, technology, vulnerable groups, climate advocacy and education.