BVI advocates for climate resilience funding
The BVI recently rallied support for itself and 12 other small Caribbean states, saying they remain in need of financing to address sustainable development and climate resilience.
The BVI and the 12 Caribbean nations are Associate Members of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC).
The special call for support was made by BVI Special Envoy Benito Wheatley who recently spoke at a forum hosted by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
In his remarks, Wheatley said, “The Associate Members remain undeterred in our quest for support to assist us with sustainable development and climate resilience. Together (with the UN system) we will try to find a way forward so that the Associate Members are not left behind as international efforts are made to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.”
Wheatley emphasised that the British Virgin Islands had advocated on behalf of the Associate Members at the various meetings, but that greater acknowledgement of their needs was still required.
He also said corresponding support is needed for these nations to address sustainable development and climate resilience under the new SIDS Programme of Action that will be agreed in Antigua and Barbuda later in May.
Executive Secretary of UN ECLAC Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs acknowledged the challenges faced by the Associate Members in his closing statement.
“Please allow me to acknowledge the concerns raised by the Representative of the British Virgin Islands on the need of the Associate Members to gain access to financing for development and other types of assistance to strengthen their sustainable development and climate resilience. This forum will continue to be a platform so that the Associate Members can present their challenges,” the head of the region’s UN regional commission said.
In affirming support for the Associate Members, ECLAC agreed to, “recognise their specific political and economic constraints and vulnerabilities (of small Caribbean States) in their pursuit of sustainable development, and encourage their continued inclusion, where appropriate, in the work of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.”
According to the BVI government, the support expressed by ECLAC represents a boost for the British Virgin Islands and other Associate Members of the UN regional commissions.
The BVI has been at the forefront of calls to large, rich nations who contribute the most to climate change, to fund small, developing nations that are most impacted by the effects of the climate crisis.
The BVI and other proponents contend that small, developing nations need more support as climate change poses a great risk to their land and marine resources, which they depend on for survival.
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When can we see a report on the environmental tax tourists have been paying all these years now? Where is that money being spent? Let me guess is it funding our “special envoy’s “ salary?
The Associate Member’s quest for support would mean more if they began by cleaning up their own backyard. Acre for acre, man for man, they certainly contribute their share to global pollution.
How can any member of government have the ba**s to even mention anything about climate while they have the open burning garbage dumps on Tortola and VG?