Caribbean territories and other small island states facing climate-change threats received a show of support from leaders around the region following an international meeting last month in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The boost followed an intervention delivered by Virgin Islands Special Envoy and United Nations Representative Benito Wheatley at the Sixth High-Level Meeting on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in Basseterre on Dec. 5, according to government.
During his intervention, Mr. Wheatley highlighted the economic impact of extreme weather on the VI and other small island developing states (SIDS) and the high financial cost of risk-reduction and other climate-resilience measures.
He also decried the perceived injustice toward several vulnerable island states like the VI that are classified as middle- and high-income and therefore remain ineligible for development and climate finance that would give them access to concessional financing and grants needed to build resilience, according to government.
Citing this situation, Mr. Wheatley called for related assistance to all SIDS in the Caribbean, including Caribbean territories that are associate members of UN regional commissions.
Endorsement
Following the meeting, Mr. Wheatley’s intervention received an official endorsement from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, and ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean, according to government.
The support was codified in a document outlining the meeting’s outcome.
“The ministers and authorities recognised the high and increasing cost of reducing risk to improve human security outcomes and promote climate resilience,” the document stated. “In particular, they highlighted the challenge for SIDS, including those classified as middle- and high-income countries as well as the associate members of the United Nations regional commissions that are deemed vulnerable yet not eligible for international development assistance.”
Warning systems
Also at the meeting, early warning systems were strongly encouraged across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The meeting was chaired by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew and held in the margins of the 13th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management.
