First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has emphasised that tackling environmental pollution caused by waste requires addressing the root causes at source, stressing that sustainable waste management and producer accountability are critical to safeguarding marine ecosystems. She made these remarks while addressing the High-Level Meeting of the Global Zero Waste Alliance held in Antalya, during the official visit to Türkiye to attend the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31).
Highlighting the need to nurture an environmentally conscious younger generation, the First Lady stated that empowering children is essential to long-term stewardship of the environment. She pointed out that sustainable progress relies on the unified commitment of families, academic institutions, and wider communities, observing that authentic environmental transformation must start within households, take root through schools, and flourish across society.
Organised by the First Lady of Türkiye, Emine Erdoğan, to unite global leadership in advancing durable solutions to the waste crisis, the forum was attended by spouses of world leaders and high-level dignitaries. In her address, First Lady Sajidha drew urgent attention to the devastating consequences of marine debris on coral reefs, aquatic biodiversity, and food security, reminding the gathering that discarded refuse does not simply vanish on its own while expressing the Maldives' steadfast support for the Global Zero Waste Alliance.
The First Lady also detailed legislative strides undertaken by the Maldives to safeguard its fragile ecosystems, specifically referencing recent amendments ratified by the President to the Waste Management Act. She noted that these statutory revisions strictly prohibit the unlawful importation of waste into the country and prescribe stringent penalties for unauthorised dealings in hazardous materials.
Underscoring that waste management is a shared international obligation, First Lady Sajidha remarked that import-dependent island nations disproportionately bear the burden of discarded products manufactured and packaged abroad. She affirmed that producer accountability must not conclude at the point of sale, advocating for accessible climate finance, the adoption of innovative green technologies, and sustainable packaging practices to effectively transition toward a circular economy.