Saint Lucia Prime Minister to Advocate on CARICOM’s Behalf for Climate Action at COP28

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, the Hon. Philip J. Pierre, will be in the United Arab Emirates for COP28, and will advocate for strengthened international cooperation towards a sustainable and resilient future for all.

Prime Minister Pierre is the lead Head of Government in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet with responsibility for Sustainable Development, including the Environment, Disaster Management and Water.

The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) begins 30 November and ends on 12 December. The UNFCCC convention entered into force on 21 March 1994 to prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system. Today, ratified by 198 countries, it has near-universal membership. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, works as an extension of that convention.

The Office of the Prime Minister said in a press release on Wednesday that Mr. Pierre will be in the UAE from 30 November to 5 December. The release said that his pivotal role as the spokesperson for climate change in CARICOM and as leader of Saint Lucia underscores the Region’s commitment to climate action.

The press release pointed out that COP28 holds immense significance as leaders gather to discuss strategies to limit and prepare for the imminent challenges of climate change. The primary focus of COP28, the Office of the Prime Minister said, is to uphold the collective commitment made in Paris in 2015, aiming to restrict long-term global temperature rises to 1.5°C. This target is paramount in mitigating the severe impacts of climate change, as emphasised by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) or the situation will worsen.

“The Caribbean’s Small Island Development States (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable nations to the effects of climate change, and their situation will worsen if appropriate action is not taken. SIDS are severely threatened by flooding, sea level rise, changes in rainfall patterns, droughts, stronger storm surges, hurricanes, among others. The SIDS economy bears a heavy annual cost as a result of climate change. Every year, the cost of recovering from the devastation caused by extreme weather events like hurricanes and flash floods, rises,” the press release said.

Source: CARICOM TODAY