Maldives Works to Improve Climate and Disaster Warning Capacity

The Maldives is moving to expand its early warning capacity as climate-related risks place growing pressure on the country’s disaster preparedness systems.

Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ali Shareef said on Tuesday that the government is working to broaden the national radar network, which currently relies on a single installation in Hulhulé. Speaking at the President’s Office, he said the planned expansion is intended to strengthen the country’s ability to monitor weather systems and issue timely warnings to island communities.

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The planned upgrade includes the acquisition of several smaller radar units, as well as the installation of a larger radar facility in Gan. According to Minister Shareef, the project is now in the tendering stage.

“Furthermore, we are in the process of acquiring several smaller radar units, while simultaneously advancing efforts to install a major radar facility in Gan,” Minister Shareef stated.

The expansion comes as the Maldives continues to face heightened exposure to extreme weather, coastal flooding, erosion, and other climate-related hazards. For an island nation spread across a wide geographic area, timely weather monitoring and alert systems are central to reducing damage to communities, infrastructure, and essential services.

The government has linked the radar expansion to the Maldives Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy 2024-2030, which aims to improve national preparedness and protect critical infrastructure. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has also called for the use of advanced meteorological technology to ensure that residents across the country receive warnings before disasters escalate.

Officials said the wider early warning initiative will also be supported through a USD 25 million grant from the Green Climate Fund. The funding is expected to be used to deploy early warning alarm systems across the country in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme.

The administration has also advocated internationally for greater financial support for small island developing states, arguing that countries such as the Maldives require additional assistance to respond to climate risks they did little to create but are among the first to experience.

The planned radar expansion signals a shift toward strengthening disaster preparedness before emergencies occur, rather than relying mainly on response measures after damage has been done. For the Maldives, where climate risks are increasingly tied to public safety, infrastructure protection, and economic continuity, early warning systems are becoming a core part of national resilience planning.