* Download the declaration.
* Keynote address by His Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Rep. of Maldives.
* Remarks of Minister of Environment, Energy And Water at the inaugural meeting of island countries on human dimensions of climate change
Male’ Declaration on the Human Dimension of Global Climate Change
We the representatives of the Small Island Developing States having met in Male’ from 13 to 14
November 2007,
Aware that the environment provides the infrastructure for human civilization and that life depends on the uninterrupted functioning of natural systems;
Accepting the conclusions of the WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) including, inter alia, that climate change is unequivocal and accelerating, , and that mitigation of emissions and adaptation to climate change impacts is physically and economically feasible if urgent action is taken;
Persuaded that the impacts of climate change pose the most immediate, fundamental and farreaching threat to the environment, individuals and communities around the planet, and that these impacts have been observed to be intensifying in frequency and magnitude;
Emphasizing that small island, low-lying coastal, and atoll states are particularly vulnerable to even small changes to the global climate and are already adversely affected by alterations in
ecosystems, changes in precipitation, rising sea-levels and increased incidence of natural
disasters;
Convinced that immediate and effective action to mitigate and adapt to climate change presents the greatest opportunity to preserve the prospects for future prosperity, and that further delay risks irreparable harm and jeopardizes sustainable development;
Reaffirming the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
Recalling the relevant provisions of declarations, resolutions and programmes of action adopted by major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions and their follow-up meetings, in particular the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment of 1972 (Stockholm Declaration), the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and Agenda 21, and the 2002 Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development;
Noting that the fundamental right to an environment capable of supporting human society and the
full enjoyment of human rights is recognized, in varying formulations, in the constitutions of over
one hundred states and directly or indirectly in several international instruments;
Recognizing the leadership of the Alliance of Small Island States in promoting and organizing
international responses to climate change for the benefit of their citizens and humanity through
inter alia the 1989 Male’ Declaration on Global Warming and Sea Level Rise, the 1994 Barbados
Programme of Action for Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and the
2005 Mauritius Strategy for further implementation of Barbados Programme of Action;
Acknowledging the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and
its Kyoto Protocol as important initial multilateral efforts to address climate change through
global legal instruments, and the primacy of the United Nations process as the means to address
climate change;
Anticipating the publication of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human
Development Report and the meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government in Uganda, both
of which will emphasise the human aspects of sustainable development;
Concerned that climate change has clear and immediate implications for the full enjoyment of
human rights including inter alia the right to life, the right to take part in cultural life, the right to
use and enjoy property, the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to food, and the right
to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health;
Do solemnly request:
1. The international community to commit in Bali to a formal process that will ensure a post-
2012 consensus to protect people, planet and prosperity by taking urgent action to stabilize
the global climate and ensure that temperature rises fall well below 2°C above pre-industrial
averages, and that greenhouse gas concentrations are less than 450ppm, consistent with the
principles of common but differentiated responsibilities.
2. The members of AOSIS in New York to consider including the human dimension of global
climate change as one of the agenda items for the meeting of AOSIS Ministers in Bali, and to
explore possible alternatives for advancing this initiative in Bali in order to stress the moral
and ethical imperatives for action;.
3. The Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, with the help of the Secretariat, under article 7.2(l), to seek the cooperation of the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations
Human Rights Council in assessing the human rights implications of climate change.
4. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct a detailed
study into the effects of climate change on the full enjoyment of human rights, which
includes relevant conclusions and recommendations thereon, to be submitted prior to the
tenth session of the Human Rights Council.
5. The United Nations Human Rights Council to convene, in March 2009, a debate on human
rights and climate change.
Committed to an inclusive process that puts people, their prosperity, homes, survival and rights at
the centre of the climate change debate, other AOSIS members not present in Male’ are invited to
endorse this Declaration;
Small island states adopts Male' Declaration
November 15 2007
The small island states Conference on the human dimensions of climate change has adopted its resolution calling for immediate and affective action to protect them from the increasing threats of climate change. The declaration was adopted at the closing session of the conference in Kurumba resort yesterday afternoon.
Chairman of the meeting, Maldivian Environment Minister Ahmed Abdullah said it is a historic moment for the group of small island states, AOSIS, to keep working together with a new hope and vision. He said this is a very important process emanating from President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's initiatives and leadership. “Male’ Declaration is a historic process that strengthens AOSIS to work relentlessly in finding urgent solutions to the problems of climate change and its human dimensions. I thank AOSIS members wholeheartedly for their support." Abdullah said.
Male' declaration noted with grave concern about their extreme vulnerability to climate change and expressed their commitment to an inclusive process that puts people, their property, homes, survival and rights at the centre of the climate change debate. The declaration requested to include the human dimension of global climate change in the agenda of upcoming Bali Summit, and international community to commit in Bali to protect people, planet and prosperity by taking urgent action to stabilize the global climate change and ensure that temperature rises fall well below 2 degrees and above pre-industrial averages.
The declaration also called for the cooperation of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in assessing the human rights implications of climate change and to conduct a study into the effects of climate change on the full enjoyment of human rights. It also requested UN Rights Council to convene in March 2009 a debate on human rights and climate change.
Chairman of AOSIS Ambassador Engus Friday speaking on behalf of the small states praised the leadership of President Gayoom in global warming and climate change during the past 20 years and thanked the Maldivian Government for convening the Human Dimensions conference which he said is very important process for AOSIS go forward with a new vision and unified approach in Bali and beyond.
The Human Dimensions conference was opened in Male' Tuesday by President Gayoom.
courtesy of Miadhu News
Virtual Conference on Climate Change to be held
November 14 2007
The foreign Ministers of UK, Maldives and Malta has scheduled a virtual press conference, through Second Life, to draw the world’s attention to devastating impacts of climate change on the world’s Small Islands States and to highlight the effects of global warming on the individual people around the world. The conference is scheduled for 14 of this month.
Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Secretary of UK David Milliband, Michael Frendo, Foreign Minister of Malta together will express joint commitment to tackling climate change as the international community heads toward December crucial Climate Change Summit in Bali.
The virtual conference is scheduled to take place at the end of a vital sumit of the world’s small island states that is currently underway in at Dharubaaruge. The summit is designed to raise international awareness about the plight of small island states ahead of the Bali Sumit and in particular to move beyond existing discussions on emission levels, temperature rises, sea level increases and to present the real and immediate impacts of these trends on the world community at large.
The press conference will take place outside the Maldives Virtual Embassy on Diplomacy Island in Second Life. After the introduction, video speeches by the 3 Ministers will be followed. Questions and answer session will then follow.
courtesy of Miadhu News
President Gayoom calls on the international community to grant universal recognition to the fact that environmental protection, preservation and security are part of an individual’s basic human rights. “AOSIS should strengthen its voice in the current climate change debate, and work out a unified position on all issues relating to climate change”, says President Gayoom
November 13 2007
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has called on the international community to grant universal recognition to the fact that environmental protection, preservation and security are part of an individual’s basic human rights. In his Keynote Address at this morning’s Inauguration Ceremony of “The Human Dimension of Global Climate Change” conference in Male’, the President also called for a comprehensive international treaty to guarantee this fundamental human right to millions of people across the world. He also announced that the Maldives was pressing for a debate on the link between climate change and human rights at the Human Rights Council.
Addressing the gathering of senior representatives of member countries of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and international environmental organisations, the President emphasised the need “to put people back at the heart of climate change diplomacy”. Highlighting that climate change was undoubtedly the defining issue of our time, the President urged the delegates to develop a common platform for next month’s important Bali conference. He noted that, for the Maldives and other member countries of AOSIS, environmental security was today an issue of life and death. On this note, he spoke of the death and destruction caused by the 2004 tsunami disaster and the unprecedented tidal surges experienced in the Maldives earlier this year.
“We are under no illusion that time is running out for us to ensure the survival of our future generations. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are not deprived of the opportunity to grow up and to live in a safe and protected environment”, the President said.
The President said that every human being should be able to enjoy the right to a safe and secure environment. He noted that, in spite of documented international references to a safe environment as a fundamental human right, this fact had yet to be universally recognized through international legislation and institutions.
In his Keynote Address at the conference, which was organised jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water, the President stressed the need for SIDS to consolidate their ranks, if their proposals were be taken seriously. He also spoke on the importance of strengthening co-operation among AOSIS member countries and with other influential actors on the global stage.
Recalling that the establishment of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) was catalysed by the Male’ Declaration, which was agreed upon at the historic Small States’ Conference on Sea Level Rise in Male’ in 1989, the President said that “the birth of AOSIS marked a new era in international diplomacy for SIDS”. He attributed the global realisation of the vulnerability of small states to sea-level rise and storm surges, and the resultant mobilisation of efforts to seek environmental security, to the coordinated efforts of AOSIS.
The President said that AOSIS must strengthen its voice in the current climate change debate, and work out a unified position on all issues relating to climate change. He reminded that past experience proved that whenever SIDS had chosen to work in partnership, the results had been extremely positive. He noted that, with the end of the Kyoto years drawing ever closer, there was an urgent need to tackle the issue of climate change “with added impetus and resolve”.
“We must assume a leadership role in this debate. It is for us a matter of survival”, the President said. He went on to highlight that the Bali conference of next month was “a great opportunity for AOSIS to reassume its rightful role as leader rather than follower”.
In conclusion, the President said that:
“The future we seek to build is not a zero-sum game where one lifestyle is sacrificed to save another. The future we seek is one where clean energy powers sustainable development, creating new and better jobs and raising living standards across the world. The future we seek is one where biodiversity contributes to the wonders of our lives, and the proper management of natural resources provides sustained economic benefit. It is a future where scientific and technological innovation increases our mobility and builds our collective capacity. And it is a future where the promise of globalization, to share prosperity across all corners of the globe, is delivered to all humanity.”
At the Inauguration Ceremony of the Conference, the Chairman of AOSIS and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the UN, Mr. Angus Friday spoke on the importance of introducing the human dimension of climate change to complement the stands taken by AOSIS in global negotiations. He praised President Gayoom for assuming the leadership role in bringing global warming to the international community. He also noted the pivotal role of the President during the birth of AOSIS.
The welcome remarks were delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdulla Shahid. In his remarks, the foreign minister said that the bonds of friendship and cooperation that bind the members of AOSIS together transcended borders and regions and that these bonds were woven from a common view of the world, a common understanding of national and international challenges and the common determination to work together.
The Minister of Environment, Energy and Water, Mr. Ahmed Abdulla also spoke at the Ceremony. He said President Gayoom had been such a vocal proponent of the environment that his name had now become virtually synonymous with it.
The two-day conference brings together representatives of 23 island nations and a number of organisations. The guest speakers also include prominent diplomats and academics.
The President grants an interview to BBC Radio’s World Today programme, on the human dimension of global climate change
Noveber 13 2007
The President stresses the importance of environmental protection to be recognized as a fundamental human right by the international community. In an interview granted by the President to the BBC Radio’s World Today programme he highlighted the importance of attaining global recognition of environmental security as a fundamental human right.
He also noted that every individual had a right to a safe and protected environment, and that the Maldives would work towards making this an internationally accepted fact. He then highlighted that the issue of climate change was a global challenge which affects all humans, and that it was a concern for all the countries of the world.
When asked how imminent the threat of climate change was to the Maldives, the President responded that the third assessment report of the IPCC predicted that the sea-level would rise by 3 feet by the end of this century, and that as a consequence, half the country could inundated.
Further, he emphasized that the ‘Human Dimension of Global Climate Change’ Conference was being held to pave the way for small island nations to go to Bali with a common platform and an unambiguous message that climate change and sea level rise would present a clear and present danger for millions of people living in small island states.
Male’ summit on climate change commence
November 13 2007
The summit organized by Maldives on climate change participated by small island nations will commence today at Dharubaaruge. The summit named Human Dimensions of Global Climate Change is aimed at bringing the effects of climate change to world center stage. 
The summit aimed at achieving 3 different objectives, is participated by Swiss Agency for Development Corporation, Center for International Law, Diplo Foundation and Maldives.
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water reveals the main objectives of the summit are to pass the resolution of the small island states on global climate change and to agree and on a common agenda by the small island states before the Bali summit scheduled from 3 to 14 December 2007.
The Male’ summit will have an agenda dealing with many effects of climate change on human beings and especially environmental human rights.
A safe environment is the most important human right. The right to a safe environment is a prerequisite for sustainable development.
Climate change is one of the most critical global challenges of our time. Recent events have emphatically demonstrated our growing vulnerability to climate change. Climate change impacts range from affecting agriculture, further endangering food security, sea-level rise and the accelerated erosion of coastal zones, increasing intensity of natural disasters, species extinction and the spread of vector-borne diseases.
courtesy of Miadhu News
