BUILDING ON OUR COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE ACTION IN THE MALDIVES
At Secret Paradise Maldives, climate action isn’t just a box we tick, it’s part of who we are.
Living and working in the Maldives means we are on the front line of the climate crisis. Warming oceans, changing weather patterns, and shifting ecosystems are not distant threats. They are the daily reality we witness on our islands, in our coral reefs, and throughout our local communities.
In 2023, we took a significant step by becoming a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, committing to take measurable action to reduce our carbon emissions. That same year, we began tracking the emissions of our tours and cruises to establish a baseline, an essential first step in understanding our impact and identifying where reductions can be made. But we knew that signing a declaration and collecting data was just the beginning. In order to drive real change, we needed to deepen our understanding of climate science and strengthen our ability to act on it.
This June, we made that commitment tangible by completing a Climate Literacy Workshop with the brilliant team at ECOLLECTIVE We are now proud to now call ourselves a climate literate company, with 100% of the team completing the training.
WHY COMPLETE A CLIMATE LITERACY COURSE?
For us, climate literacy means having a clear understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change and more importantly, knowing how to respond in ways that make a difference.
What made the ECOLLECTIVE training stand out was its emphasis on turning knowledge into action. The sessions weren’t just educational, they were empowering. We were encouraged to reflect, challenge our assumptions, and make individual and team commitments to do better.
OUR GUESTS NOTICE CHANGES TOO
One thing we’ve observed more and more on tour is that our guests are also paying attention. During visits to mangroves, seagrass meadows, and island communities, questions about rising sea levels, carbon capture, and marine conservation are becoming a regular part of the conversation.
It’s clear that many travelers want to do more than just explore, they want to understand, contribute, and be part of a more sustainable future. Climate literacy training helps us support that journey.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Becoming climate literate is not the end goal, it’s a stepping stone on our journey.
We are already integrating what we’ve learned into our operations, from reviewing our tour itineraries to measuring our carbon footprint across all areas of the business, not just our tours. We’re also developing a project to support our guesthouse partners in reducing their carbon footprint, while positively impacting their bottom line. This is all part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in everything we do.
We believe that responsible tourism in the Maldives must go hand in hand with climate action and as a local company, we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead by example.
If you’re curious about how climate training can benefit your own business or community, we highly recommend checking out ECOLLECTIVE’s approach. It’s a powerful way to build awareness and momentum.
👉 5 Company Benefits of Carbon Training – ECOLLECTIVE
Together, let’s keep learning, keep questioning, and keep stepping forward, because there’s no time to waste.
