CARICOM Chairman Roosevelt Skerrit COP28 President unite for climate resilience

Roseau, Dominica: Dr Roosevelt Skerrit, the Chairman of the Caribbean Community – CARICOM, recently had a productive meeting with Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the President-Designate of the COP28 to the UNFCCC. Reportedly, one of the major topics of discussion was climate change.

During the meeting, Dr Skerrit mentioned that there was a certain need for a productive and timely discussion. In addition to this, he stated that it is important for the Caribbean Community to work jointly and cut global emissions by 45 per cent by 2030.

Along with this, being the Chairman of CARICOM, Roosevelt Skerrit also informed the President-Designate of the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Dr Al Jaber, this cut will help in reaching the net zero by 2050.

While emphasising the integration and functional cooperation in CARICOM for around 50 years, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit said, “We are still facing one of the biggest challenges to date.” Moreover, he expressed concern and anticipated getting engaged with COP28 President in advance of the 28th Conference of Parties.

Dr Skerrit, who also serves as the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, underlined that the countries in the Caribbean region are vulnerable to climate change and have been dealing with the existential threat. “We are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, suffering from the ravages of climate change that is not of their making,” he stated.

Furthermore, he mentioned some major political outcomes which are expected by CARICOM by COP28.

• Deliver a credible roadmap for the doubling of adaptation finance
• Global Stocktake will provide an opportunity to ensure that we keep the promise of Paris alive as well as assess the adequacy of adaptation efforts, and the financing, capacity building and technology transfer that the Paris Agreement is to deliver.
• The operationalisation and capitalisation of the Loss and Damage fund will provide critical climate finance to the most vulnerable countries that are ravaged by the adverse impacts of climate change. These funds must be in the form of grants.
• The selection of the host of the Santiago Network
• An ambitious mitigation work programme that will see developed countries and major economies submit enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) aligned to the 1.5 pathway.
• Adoption of the Adaptation Framework
• A Work Program in Just Transition that will ensure equity and include both mitigation and adaptation and that won’t leave any SIDS behind.

CARICOM Chairman Skerrit also recalled the crucial time faced by Dominica and highlighted that the Caribbean country had experienced a first-hand catastrophe. He stated that Hurricane Maria devastated 226 per cent of the GDP in the year 2016, followed the Tropical Storm Erika, which damaged 90 per cent of the GDP in the year 2014.

He also highlighted that similar experiences are faced by other CARICOM countries.

While concluding his address, the Chairman of CARICOM stated that it is evident that with every increasing warning, the intensity and frequency of climate-related disasters will increase. It will undermine sustainable development aspirations.

He mentioned, “We all are counting on effective leadership to steer the world on the path that will keep 1.5 within reach. Rest assured of the fullest support as well as solidarity of the Caribbean Community – CARICOM during your respected Presidency.”