By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 28, 2023 –Caribbean leaders are currently meeting at the Grenada Radisson Beach Resort for the Second Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change, a crucial event leading up to the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai this November.
Noting that this dialogue brings Caribbean Heads of Government and Officials to the forefront of climate discussions, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said at the opening of the two-day session, “As we collectively tackle climate change, we anticipate significant strides towards climate resilience and adaptation, innovative financing for renewable energy, sustainable approaches to biological systems, advancements in e-mobility, and the establishment of stronger national systems for climate transparency.”
Prime Minister Mitchell added that these dialogues are “the key to unlocking a more sustainable future for our region, fostering resilience, and securing a better tomorrow for all.”
In a powerful address at the opening session on Thursday, Bahamas Prime Minister Philip E. Davis underscored the urgency of the climate crisis when he stated, “The Caribbean nations, bound by their shared vulnerability, are raising their voices together to hold developed nations accountable for climate commitments.”
He passionately emphasized the importance of climate justice and the need for international financial institutions to reevaluate their lending approach to vulnerable states, and the call for equitable access to concessional development finance resonated strongly.
The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference will convene in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
