Prime Minister Philip J Pierre has underscored the urgent need for unified climate action across the Caribbean, as he addressed regional leaders at the closing ceremony of the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in St Kitts on Friday, February 27th.
In his remarks, Pierre warned that the increasing threats posed by climate change demand coordinated and immediate responses from Caribbean nations.
“I just want to remind everybody in the region the threat of climate change, the threat of hurricanes, the threat of changes in climate that can affect us,” he said.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong, collective stance on global climate targets, particularly as preparations continue for upcoming international negotiations.
“It’s very important that we maintain unity around the 1.5 degree centigrade. We accelerate our readiness for loss and damage access. We coordinate our submissions and negotiation positions early,” Pierre stated.
He also called for deeper engagement with international partners, stressing that financial support and debt reform must remain central to the region’s climate diplomacy.
“We strengthen our engagement with our partners and keep finance and debt reform at the center of our diplomatic efforts,” he added.
Pierre cautioned that failure to prioritize climate resilience could have devastating consequences for Caribbean development.
“It’s extremely important that the matter of climate change and resilience never be put in the background because all our discussions, our plans can be literally wiped off in a matter of hours,” he warned.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister also used the platform to extend a formal invitation to regional leaders for the next CARICOM summit, which Saint Lucia will host in July.
“Well, Saint Lucia will be hosting the 51st meeting from the 5th to the 8th of July,” he announced.
Expressing confidence in the island’s ability to host the high-level event, Pierre added, “I want to invite everyone, including my fellow heads, Saint Lucia is arguably the nicest country in the region. And we have some of the most hospitable people.”
“We’re looking forward to receiving you in Saint Lucia for the 51st meeting,” he said.
The upcoming summit is expected to bring regional leaders together once again to address pressing issues, with climate change likely to remain high on the agenda.