Cover Environmental pollution in a beautiful tropical island of the Maldives (Photo: Getty Images)
Environmental pollution in a beautiful tropical island of the Maldives (Photo: Getty Images)
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Plastic pollution is a threat to marine ecosystems. In the Maldives, one woman leads the fight against it. Read on to learn more about Ramon Magsaysay awardee Shaahina Ali
It is truly a privilege of a lifetime to step on the shores of Maldives. With its turquoise waters, sugar-white beaches and overwater villas, this island nation offers postcard beauty that earned it the title of “The King’s Island”.
Yet beauty always comes at a price. Human Rights Watch has warned that the Maldives could become uninhabitable by 2050 due to the accelerating pace of climate change. Tourism, which contributes over 20 per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), continues to expand.
The boom in visitor numbers, and the plastic waste they generate, conceals the existential crisis confronting this fragile South Asian paradise. Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Shaahina Ali is among those leading the fight, having partnered with Parley for the Oceans in 2015 to launch a programme that transforms discarded plastic into a sustainable source of livelihood for local communities.
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Above A portrait of Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Shaahina Ali from the Maldives (Photo: Ramon Magsaysay Awards)
A portrait of Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Shaahina Ali from the Maldives (Photo: Ramon Magsaysay Awards)
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Today, as executive director of Parley Maldives, she spearheads the organisation’s signature AIR strategy: ‘Avoid, Intercept and Redesign’ to create a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
“The first impacts of climate change are already being felt here, and we live with them every day. As locals, there are limits to what we can do without stronger commitments from larger governments and global players to cut emissions and address production, but this is our home and we must act regardless of who else does,” Ali says in a dialogue with the press.
The Ramon Magsaysay awardee insists it is her duty to guard her homeland at all costs, even if the fight drains every ounce of her strength. “In the Maldives, we say that if you are sinking, you swim until you either reach shore or exhaust every effort to save yourself; and that principle guides our work to do everything possible until fate or humanity offers us reprieve.”
As of this post, the Maldives’ plastic footprint stands at roughly 12 per cent of the nation’s waste—around 43,134 tonnes a year, according to the Maldives Ocean Plastics Alliance. With the absence of waste segregation or a proper plastic collection system, an estimated 66 per cent of plastic ends up mismanaged.
Through partnerships with volunteers and local businesses, Ali and Parley Maldives carried out large-scale cleanup, educational campaigns and recycling initiatives that tackle not only the visible waste but also the mindset of Maldivians and tourists alike.
Under Ali’s leadership, Parley has set up plastic interception and collection points in island communities and more than 70 schools, while spearheading over 700 joint clean-ups along vulnerable coastlines.
“We are 100 per cent a local organisation, our true champions are the communities themselves. I am fortunate to work with an incredible team. Our goal is to create solutions that empower locals to sustain progress even when Parley or other organisations are not present. That, in essence, is who we are.”
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Above Environmental pollution in a beautiful tropical island of the Maldives (Photo: Getty Images)
Environmental pollution in a beautiful tropical island of the Maldives (Photo: Getty Images)
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Ali recognises that much more must be done, both on land and at sea, to secure a cleaner and safer future for her country. She has worked with the government on climate action, yet when asked if she feels “sympathetic” for its efforts, she says no, though she acknowledges where the real problem lies.
“I would say we are included in the consultative process, but those consultations are far too infrequent, and the environment is clearly not a priority at the moment. I am not sympathetic to the government, but I do see that it is overwhelmed, partly because of a long history of neglect and poor choices,” she stresses.
“Each administration inherits these issues and simply builds on them without addressing the root problems. Grand plans are put forward, yet little attention is paid to the practical steps needed to manage what is already happening. The policies and mandates are written, the objectives are on paper, but they are not treated as priorities. As a result, we are losing environmental assets that can never be restored,” she adds.
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In 2024 alone, the Maldives welcomed an estimated 2.05 million tourists from across the globe. While vital to the economy, this influx also poses a major threat, as tourism drives plastic consumption, pollution and unsustainable development that strain the country’s fragile ecosystems.
According to Ali, Parley works closely with resorts, engaging with their marketing and engineering teams, but focusing on “back-of-house” operations. With the Maldives known for luxury tourism rather than backpackers or ordinary travellers, Parley champions the idea that purpose is the new luxury, positioning the islands as a destination for purposeful tourism.
“Front-of-house operations in many resorts already promote sustainability, with initiatives like replacing plastic bottles with glass and bottling their own water,” Ali explains. “Back-of-house, on the other hand, strengthens training, staff induction, so employees understand that protecting the environment is not just about meeting guest expectations but about safeguarding their own future. We want staff to leave with that sense of responsibility and carry it back to their communities.”
Above Marine pollution, mainly made up of plastic bottles and polystyrene floating in Hinnavaru Harbour, Maldives, Indian Ocean (Photo: Getty Images)
Marine pollution, mainly made up of plastic bottles and polystyrene floating in Hinnavaru Harbour, Maldives, Indian Ocean (Photo: Getty Images)
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As a Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, Ali feels grateful that the recognition will further shine a light on their commitment to environmental work.
“I am not really an ‘award person’,” she humbly says. “The Magsaysay Award, however, felt different. It was not about popularity or visibility. It recognised the spirit behind the work. Everyone who does this kind of work does it because they genuinely believe in it, and I felt this award truly reflected that. So I accepted it, not just for myself, but for my team and for the Maldives,” she says.
She also acknowledges that there is more to be done to protect the Maldives and its people. She asserts that real progress will require collective responsibility within government, communities and individuals alike.
“Hope, for me, comes from the work I do and the small but meaningful changes I see in others. It could be that one person who tells me, ‘You’ve changed my outlook’, or a child who says, ‘Miss, those plastic bottles on the beach really bother me now’.”
“My team, in fact, is my greatest hope. They tolerate my insistence that, in environmental work, there is sometimes no democracy. Difficult decisions must be made for the planet, even if they don’t please everyone, and my team stands with me in making them. I am deeply grateful not only to them but also to the teachers, principals and the Education Ministry, who have been proud and supportive partners in our programmes,” she concludes.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
