Bloomberg Línea — At least 20 Central American and Caribbean countries have called on international financial and development institutions to “prioritize the provision of resources” to address climate change.
The nations said the funds would be earmarked to support efforts to address the climate crisis, “recognizing the urgency and magnitude of the challenges facing these regions.”
The joint statement, drafted by Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS), notes that these countries had never before come together to express their shared concern about the evident warming of the planet.
“Now, not only have they let the world know of their joint concern, but they have collectively called for action,” Sanders noted.
“Climate change is the greatest threat to all nations, but especially to small and vulnerable states,” the diplomat added.
In addition, Sanders said that while small island developing states have been making their voices heard at UN Committee of the Parties (COP) meetings at many climate change meetings, there is a need to broaden the alliance of states jointly seeking remedies for the loss and damage to their economies and the livelihoods of their peoples.
The Caribbean countries that made the joint declaration at the OAS General Assembly are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Haiti, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
In Central America, they are Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama.
The Caribbean and Central America combined represent around 92 million inhabitants and a GDP of approximately $1.08 trillion. With an estimated contribution of 15% and 12%, both regions have the highest share of the tourism sector in total GDP, according to a study by Horwath HTL.