Antigua and Barbuda gains access to Green Climate Fund

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Prime Minister Gaston Browne recently signed an accreditation master agreement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), as the final step in the accreditation process on behalf of this country’s Department of Environment.
The accreditation master agreement provides a framework for the country’s direct access to climate finance from the Green Climate Fund to implement projects.
Antigua and Barbuda can access up to $10 million worth of projects from the GFC, which could allow the twin island state to continue strengthening its climate resilience agenda.
 This country’s Department of Environment received approval from the Fund for a multi-country project to better prepare homes, businesses and infrastructure to withstand Category 5 hurricanes similar to those that ripped through the Caribbean last year and decimated Barbuda.
 “Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Environment will be the first national public institution in the Caribbean to be accredited to the Green Climate Fund,” prime minister Browne happily remarked. “I hope this shows other small island states that it can be done. Antigua and Barbuda will continue to drive paradigm-shifting approaches to cope with climate change, because we must prepare for this reality.”
He added that being able to access the fund “is a milestone to be celebrated by everyone in Antigua and Barbuda” since “local private sector and community groups are going to benefit from GCF’s climate funds”.
Grenada has joined Antigua and Barbuda, together with GCF, to develop a regional proposal to manage Caribbean climate and disaster risks. GCF Deputy Executive Director Javier Manzanares has highlighted the importance of climate finance in safeguarding for future disasters, and the GCF will appraise its ongoing efforts to assist regional climate action during its Structured Dialogue with the Caribbean in Grenada on November 6 to 9.

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