Heads of Government of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Suriname and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are on a sub-committee that has been established to chart the regional approach to COP28.

Heads of Government set up the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee during the just-concluded 45th Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Given the critical importance of financing to address the impact of climate change, the grouping of Heads will define the regional approach for preparations for COP 28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The Heads agreed on the need for strong political advocacy from the Region on key action areas to keep the 1.5 temperature goal within reach, focusing on areas of finance for adaption and loss and damage, improving access to finance for SIDS, de-risking, debt sustainability and innovation as key points. They also agreed to actively support the Caribbean Development Bank’s proposal to host the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage.

The COP 28 will be held in the United Arab Emirates in November and President-designate of the Conference, His Excellency, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, was a special guest at the Heads of Government meeting.

In his virtual interaction with the Heads of Government, the President-designate said that his presidency will focus on an action-oriented, consensus-driven approach to climate change mitigation, with a view to protecting nature and enhancing food security.

The Communique issued at the end of the Meeting said Heads of Government welcomed his proposed new framework, which included efforts to keep pressure on donor countries regarding financing and targets for the reduction of carbon emissions. They insisted on the need for urgent and decisive measures.