Financial support critical for Small Island Developing States to address climate change: Saint Lucian Minister of Sustainable Development

Shawn Edward, Minister of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training of Saint Lucia, stressed that financial support is the critical factor that contributes to enabling developing island states to address the effects of disasters caused by climate change, which is mainly caused by emissions issued by advanced countries.

Regarding their initiatives regarding confronting climate change, he told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the now-running COP28: ‘We have initiated the smart agriculture programme, and we have also developed what is known as the Nationally Determined Contributions plan, and there are many other initiatives that we are undertaking as a government.’

Edward, who serves as head of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, said that COP28 is of great importance to small island developing states such as Saint Lucia, adding that “As you know, we live in a region that is highly vulnerable to climate change. We live on the front line o
f climate change, and climate change continues to destroy and impact the livelihoods of our people. Therefore, the COP28 is the place where all players come together to discuss issues and seek solutions.”

He expressed confidence that the COP 28 would produce tangible decisions that would help small island developing States deal with climate change issues.

Source: Emirates News Agency