President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has met Vice President of Seychelles Sebastian Pillay on the sidelines of the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP31, in Antalya, Türkiye, as the Maldives continues to strengthen its international engagement on climate action and the priorities of small island developing states.
The meeting was held during President Muizzu’s visit to Türkiye to participate in the global climate summit, bringing together the leaders of two Indian Ocean island nations that face many of the same environmental and development challenges arising from climate change.
During the discussions, the Maldives and Seychelles reaffirmed their shared commitment to using COP31 as an important platform to advocate for stronger international measures to address the growing impacts of climate change. Both countries are also working to highlight the need for greater financial, technical and developmental support for small island developing states, which remain among the most vulnerable to rising sea levels, coastal erosion, extreme weather and other climate-related pressures.
For the Maldives, climate resilience remains closely connected to the country’s long-term economic development, protection of island communities and sustainability of its globally renowned tourism industry. The Government of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has continued to place the concerns of vulnerable island nations prominently within international climate discussions, while seeking practical partnerships and stronger global support for adaptation and resilience.
The engagement with Seychelles further reflects the Maldives’ efforts to strengthen cooperation with fellow island nations and build a stronger collective voice on issues affecting developing countries with unique geographic and environmental vulnerabilities.
COP31 is being held in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026, with the World Leaders’ Summit taking place on 11 and 12 November. The summit provides an important opportunity for world leaders to advance climate commitments, discuss financing and adaptation priorities, and shape international cooperation on addressing the increasingly significant consequences of climate change.
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