Last Updated on March 19, 2025, 1:40 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Basseterre— Delivering his opening remarks at the inaugural ceremony of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the 4-day event being hosted by St Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew said that the Caribbean nations must adopt a unified approach to address climate change and work for a sustainable future.
After appreciating the role played by members of his cabinet in organizing the 4-day event, the Prime Minister said it was a proud moment for the people of St Kitts and Nevis to host the special event.
He said that the Caribbean needed a more resilient economy due to the increase in the frequency of natural disasters. “It is a very challenging situation for the Caribbean, and all nations must stand up to the need of the hour and work collectively to mitigate the ill effects of climate change,” the Prime Minister said.
He said St Kitts and Nevis was going all out to contribute to the efforts aimed at bringing down the challenges posed by climate change. “We want to be active participants in the efforts to fight climate change,” Dr. Drew said.
The Prime Minister also called upon the sensitivities of the international partners, stating that the Caribbean nations needed their support in building a sustainable future, as these countries were at the highest risk of natural disasters that have been caused due to changing weather patterns.
Speaking about the 4-day event, the Prime Minister said that various Caribbean nations had gathered at a crucial moment as these islands were facing challenges such as rising sea levels, an increased number of hurricanes, and were even at risk of earthquakes.
He said that this four-day dialogue must be used to overcome various barriers so that effective solutions can be found to the existing problems being faced by the Caribbean nations.
He said that the time was to take the needed action and not just hold discussions on crucial matters.
Pointing out that Caribbean nations had geographical limitations, the prime minister said that these island nations were small, but these were enough for implementing sustainable models that the world needed.
The Prime Minister said that the Caribbean nations were collectively working to shift from fossil fuels to thermal energy, and other renewable sources of energy to meet their energy demands. “We are aiming to see a 61% reduction in the emissions by 2030 by use of renewable energy,” he said.
Besides, the Caribbean nations were also promoting the use of electric vehicles that can further bring down emissions. He said that the Caribbean nations were committed to promoting the use of renewable energy, which was a positive and effective step towards fighting climate change and also stimulating local economic growth and enhancing resilience.
The Prime Minister said that the Caribbean nations wanted the world to collaborate with them, but before that, these nations must collaborate amongst themselves for the common goals related to climate action.
He said that there must be a unified approach by all Caribbean nations to promote geothermal and other renewable sources of energy.
He said that it was also important that the political leadership placed the country and its people above all else while formalizing the common goals towards climate action.
The Prime Minister lauded the role being played by GCF and said that the organization has been an indispensable partner of the Caribbean nations in responding to climate change. He also listed out various multimillion-dollar projects that have been funded by GCF to promote climate resilience in the Caribbean nations.
He said that there must be a collective effort on the part of the public and private sectors so that the nations can respond effectively to the challenges posed by the changing weather patterns.
The Prime Minister said that the reason must be to promote the interconnectedness of sustainable goals.
While concluding his speech, he expressed hope that the four-day dialogue will go a long way in redefining the common sustainable goals of the Caribbean nations.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
