Beijing, June 12, 2025 – The path to becoming a sustainable city is filled with challenges, but immediate action is essential, said Mayor Adam Azim of Male' City during a panel at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Mayors Forum in Beijing.
Speaking at a fireside chat on the sidelines of the forum, Mayor Azim responded to a question on carbon reduction, coastal protection, energy and transport reform, and the broader effort to create a sustainable urban future.
“Climate change is a difficult but urgent task,” said Mayor Azim. “The struggle to be a sustainable city is difficult, but it needs a quick solution.”
He acknowledged that carbon reduction efforts in Male'City are still in their early stages but emphasized that progress is underway. One of the city’s key focus areas has been urban congestion, which Mayor Azim described as a major barrier to sustainability.
“We started by identifying how congested our roads are,” he said. “A recent study we did with the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) identified what many residents already feel – that there are more than enough vehicles for the city’s infrastructure.”
The consequences of congestion, according to the mayor, extend beyond traffic delays. “This increases air pollution, road accidents, and wastes people’s time and income,” he noted. In response, the city is developing a congestion reduction plan aimed at improving the quality of life for residents.
Mayor Azim also highlighted the limited authority of the city council in implementing major reforms but stressed that efforts are being made to ensure the voices of the people are heard at the national level. “The city council has very little power to bring about these changes, but we are working to make the people's voice heard by the government,” he said.
Carbon reduction, Mayor Azim added, is about more than just environmental targets. “It’s not only related to air pollution – it’s about people’s lives,” he emphasized. He pointed to early signs of positive impact as evidence that the city is on the right track.
The UNDP Mayors Forum brings together city leaders from around the world to share strategies and innovations for achieving sustainable development in urban environments.