President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed that development and climate resilience are inseparable for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), calling for more accessible and affordable climate finance to address the growing vulnerabilities of island nations.

The President made the remarks at the High-Level Roundtable on The Second Decade of the Paris Agreement: Accelerating Implementation and Access to Finance, held on the sidelines of COP31.

He noted that the impacts of climate change on SIDS are well established and highlighted the Maldives’ decades-long efforts to develop bankable projects, integrate climate resilience into national development planning and advocate for stronger international action.

However, President Muizzu warned that shortcomings in the global financial architecture are forcing vulnerable countries such as the Maldives to accumulate substantial debt while investing in protecting their populations and safeguarding their islands.

He stressed that these challenges cannot be addressed by vulnerable nations alone and called for urgent, consistent and collective global action. He emphasised that climate finance must be more accessible, affordable and responsive to the realities faced by vulnerable countries.

The President also called for greater recognition of the distinct needs of Small Island States, noting that their multiple dimensions of vulnerability cannot be adequately assessed through income-based measurements alone.

He highlighted the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, which calls for vulnerability-responsive approaches, improved access to financing and stronger international support for sustainable development and climate resilience.

President Muizzu also welcomed the BRIDGE initiative, which aims to accelerate climate commitments and translate them into practical and actionable solutions.

As the world enters the second decade of the Paris Agreement, the President urged countries to remain firmly committed to its implementation. He stressed that global leaders must deliver more than promises, saying history would judge them by their actions and the results achieved for those most in need.