Hon. Abdul Raheem Abdulla, MP, Speaker of the People’s Majlis, addressed the 5th Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Parliamentary Network held today, on the sidelines of the IPU 152nd Assembly in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Addressing the theme of the conference, “The Role of Parliaments in Ensuring Climate-Resilient Urbanization in the NAM Area,” Hon. Speaker highlighted the urgent need for climate-resilient urbanization, particularly for small island developing States such as the Maldives, which remain highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and flooding.
Speaker Abdul Raheem also underscored the critical role of parliaments in strengthening legal and policy frameworks related to environmental protection, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable land use. He further emphasized the importance of integrating climate priorities into national development strategies.
Hon. Speaker also noted the oversight role of parliaments in ensuring government accountability through mechanisms such as committee work, budget scrutiny, and policy review. He highlighted that such efforts contribute to sustainable investments in key sectors including housing, transport, water and sanitation, energy, and waste management.
Referring to national efforts, Hon. Speaker pointed out that the People’s Majlis has established a dedicated committee on environment and climate change to ensure continued focus on climate-related policies and legislation.
He further stressed the role of legislatures in facilitating access to international climate finance, encouraging innovative financing mechanisms, and promoting public-private partnerships to support environmentally sustainable infrastructure and services.
In his remarks, the Speaker also expressed concern over ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, highlighting their potential humanitarian and economic consequences, and called for restraint, dialogue, and peaceful resolution.
The Speaker concluded by reaffirming the Maldives’ commitment to working with other parliaments to advance climate-resilient urbanization and ensure a sustainable and resilient future for all.