Overall NDC Equity Score
Critically Deficient
Emissions Reductions
Exemplary
Gender Justice
Exemplary
Youth Inclusion
Insufficient
The NDC made an effort to acknowledge the disproportionate impacts of climate on young people, but it insufficiently addresses long-term inclusion.
Summary
The Maldives is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Indian Ocean, comprising approximately 1,190 islands arranged across 26 naturally formed volcanic atolls, with the 7th largest reef system in the world. The Maldives is recognised as one of the most climate vulnerable countries across the globe, despite contributing 0.004% to global GHG emissions. This is due to the nation’s low-lying nature, with 80% of the islands less than a metre above sea level.
The NDC 3.0 aims to achieve a GHG emissions reduction of 1.52 million tonnes of CO2eq in 2035, which is an 82% reduction compared to reported emissions in 2018, with energy and waste as key target sectors. However, due to the Maldives’ high debt-to-GDP ratio and the limited financial resources, 100% of this target is conditional on receiving adequate international support. In addition to the NDC, the Maldives has important policies in place to aid the transition, including the Climate Emergency Act (Act No. 9/2021), the Third National Climate Action Plan launched in February 2025 and the Maldives Energy Roadmap (2024-2033) which outlines additional plans to achieve 33% of national electricity needs from renewable sources by the year 2028.
On gender mainstreaming and inclusion, the Maldives’ updated NDC includes a dedicated section on “Gender, Children, and Youth,” recognising women as disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, due to systemic gender inequalities and limited access to resources and services. The NDC outlines six targeted strategies that address the unique challenges faced by women, in addition to ten broader strategies focused on vulnerable groups. While the NDC acknowledges the importance of women’s participation in climate decision-making, this is primarily framed within the context of addressing gendered vulnerabilities rather than positioning women as drivers of climate solutions. Furthermore, the document does not outline the nature or extent of women’s contributions to the development of climate strategies. The gender component in the NDC, while present, would benefit from stronger institutional integration, transparent implementation mechanisms, and meaningful participation of women throughout.
On youth inclusion, the Maldives’ updated NDC includes a dedicated section on “Gender, Children, and Youth,” recognising youth as disproportionately vulnerable to climate impacts while also highlighting their potential as key contributors to climate action. The NDC outlines strategies focused on education, awareness, and capacity-building, aiming to equip youth as agents of change to advance intergenerational justice in climate action. However, the document lacks details on the extent of youth participation in the NDC’s development process, reflecting a broader gap in institutional mechanisms for youth inclusion. Furthermore, the absence of formal government-supported avenues and designated youth representatives for climate issues accentuates this gap, representing challenges to effective participation of youth in climate governance.
Highlights
- The Maldives’ updated NDC (3.0) includes a dedicated section on “Gender, Children, and Youth,” marking a significant advancement from the previous version (2.0), which lacked reference to these groups.
- The NDC outlines targeted strategies addressing the specific vulnerabilities of women and youth to address their vulnerabilities and strengthen their roles in climate action.
- It sets an ambitious goal to reduce emissions by 82% in 2035 compared to 2018 levels, reaffirming the Maldives’ commitment to emission reduction despite its low contribution to global emissions.
Lowlights
- A 100% of is conditional upon external financial and technical support, raising concerns about the feasibility of implementation without sustained international assistance.
- The NDC does not provide measurable indicators for tracking the participation of women and youth in climate-related decision-making processes.
- There is limited transparency regarding the involvement of women and youth in the formulation of the NDC, reflecting a broader need for inclusive and institutionalised stakeholder engagement mechanisms.
Key Recommendations
The Maldives’ updated NDC (3.0) outlines an ambitious emissions reduction target of 1.52 million tonnes of CO2eq in 2035 (82% reduction in emissions compared to 2018), despite contributing just 0.004% to global greenhouse gas emissions. However, this commitment is entirely conditional on international assistance for financial and technological support, reflecting the country’s high debt-to-GDP burden and limited internal resources. The 3.0 NDC marks significant progress in inclusion of vulnerable groups, with a dedicated section on “Gender, Children, and Youth.” It recognises the disproportionate vulnerability of women and young people to climate change while outlining targeted strategies to build resilience and capacity. Despite this, the lack of defined mechanisms for youth and women’s participation in both the design and implementation of the NDC highlights crucial gaps in institutional inclusion. While the document is a step forward, further action is needed to ensure that emissions targets and equity commitments are both actionable and inclusive.
The following are key recommendations for the improvement of future NDCs and other national climate plans:
For Gender Justice
- Appoint a dedicated gender focal point within the government to guide gender-responsive climate action.
- Develop and monitor key indicators that measure progress on gender mainstreaming and resilience, including the use of gender-disaggregated data.
- Recognise and empower women as agents of change in climate policies and programs, not just within the context of addressing gendered vulnerabilities.
- Ensure the meaningful involvement of women at all stages of the NDC development process.
For Youth Inclusion
- Appoint a dedicated youth focal point within the Ministry of Tourism and Environment to advise the government and champion youth inclusion in climate governance.
- Create inclusive platforms that enable young people to actively participate in national climate decision-making and policy development.
- Design and implement a formal youth engagement process to center youth perspectives in the development of the next NDC and related climate strategies.
- Ensure meaningful youth representation in national delegations to global climate forums, including UNFCCC COP and other global climate agendas through increased financial and technical resources.
NDC Ambassador - Author
