NEW YORK — WITH global warming intensifying and the Caribbean region continuing to be at the forefront of climate change, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, delivered a strong message to fossil fuel providers in the Global South.
Like other small island developing states, the Caribbean is on the frontlines of climate change and has been forced to rebuild without adequate support from the major greenhouse gas emitters. On Monday (Sept. 23), Browne warned large oil companies that their days of exploiting the natural resources of the Global South “are numbered.” These companies have long drilled and profited from small island states without fairly compensating those nations for their resources.
“As we move to renewable energy, I re-emphasize that rich, industralized nations must pay for the loss and damage that they have devastated our communities,,” Browne told the United Nations.
He also reminded developed nations that their high emissions are exacerbating a problem that will impact future generations, with the world likely surpassing the 1.5-degree Celsius limit set under the Paris Agreement.
In recent months, the Caribbean has experienced increasingly warmer days and extremely hot nights, while the world recorded its hottest summer on record. Browne emphasized: “And to the Carbon billionaires, your profits must fuel a sustainable future, not your complicated lifestyles. Wealthy countries and the industrial giants must pay their dues and invest in a sustainable and equitable future."
Belize’s Prime Minister, John Antonio Briceño, also criticized global leaders for their slow adoption of solutions to address the worsening climate crisis. Speaking at the ‘Summit of the Future,’ Briceño said the world’s climate goals are slipping further out of reach, with no concrete plans in place. ““There has been no effective global response to say we will do what we have failed to do, will not suffice,” he remarked.
Briceño highlighted that since the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement, the world has continued to experience increasingly hotter summers. His comments underscore the frustration of small island states as they face the brunt of climate inaction.
Regional leaders, including St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew and Environment Minister Joyelle Clarke, have also made presentations at the summit, which serves as a precursor to the United Nations General Assembly debate. According to the UN, the Summit of the Future brings world leaders together “to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.”
