OECS leaders pass resolution to address threat posed by climate change

0
16
- Advertisement -

By Makeida Antonio

By Makeida Antonio

Regional leaders addressed the increasing climate change threat at the fourth sitting of the OECS Assembly in Antigua.

During a motion concerning “Championing Urgent and Ambitious Climate Change Action in the OECS” on Monday, representatives of member states discussed feasible measures to reduce vulnerability to disasters such as rising sea levels and strong hurricanes, as well as green energy.

St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet urged industrialised countries to consider giving Small Island Developing States (SIDS) further access to funds to build climate resilience.

He also called on donor countries to make good on pledges made since the passage of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in 2017.

“This OECS Assembly further urges all countries to urgently fulfil existing pledges and raise the level of climate finance made available to developing countries,” he said.

“Be it further resolved that the OECS Assembly again calls on countries and development partners to prioritise climate change-related support to the particularly vulnerable, including Small Island Developing States and to reduce and eliminate onerous processes that impede access to such support.”

Meantime, the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology, Camillo Gonsalves, who was representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines, reiterated the need for OECS member states to be more proactive in the fight against climate change.

read more in today’s paper

- Advertisement -