As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seeks to enhance its leadership in global climate forums, Dr James Fletcher, former Minister for Public Service, Information, Broadcasting, Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology of Saint Lucia, has been appointed CARICOM Climate Envoy with effect from 1 January 2025.
“This project has a lot of potential to transform the Guyanese economy and the entire industry within CARICOM. One of the things that I like about the project is the integration of the community and the fact that the community [of Moblissa] is also being included and lifted up. I am also very happy to see today that Vision 25 x 2025 is not just a soundbite, it has underpinned this company’s goal and is part of their overall strategy.”
"The project encourages local youth to understand, appreciate, and advocate for the protection of these vital ecosystems, aiming to inspire lifelong environmental commitment among the next generation.”
Esquire Henry, CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA)-Antigua and Barbuda
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and UNICEF Latin America and the Caribbean have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at reducing vulnerability and building resilience across the Caribbean region. This partnership, formalised by Jean-Benoit Manhes, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean, and Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director of CDEMA, will focus on strengthening child-centered disaster management in collaboration with local, national, and regional authorities.
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), in collaboration with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (GoSVG), on 26 November 2024, launched a US$3M project to fast-track climate action.
Another CARICOM Member State has ratified the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
Saint Lucia deposited its Instruments of Ratification on 26 November 2024, joining Belize and Barbados in ratifying the BBNJ that was agreed upon in March 2023 and opened for signature in September 2023.
Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General, participated in the Ivan Plus 20 Dialogue that was held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event took place on Friday 15 November, in the margins of the Twenty-Ninth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29).
The Dialogue focused on shaping a resilient Caribbean by 2044.
The Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, has issued a call for the Region's bilateral and multilateral partners to scale up resources for climate adaptation and loss and damage, and to ensure that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) can access the funds quickly.
CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett, over the past week, held discussions with key figures in the margins of the Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Baku, Azerbaijan. The two-week Conference of the Parties opened on 11 November.
On Thursday 14 November, the Secretary-General met Dr. Mohammed Nagdee, Executive Director of the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE).
Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Prime Minister of Grenada, Hon. Dickon Mitchell, called for the closing of the "significant" financing gap Small Island Developing States face in mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis.