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LONDON, United Kingdom, July 18, 2008 - The United Kingdom (UK) has agreed to help the Caribbean fight the negative effects of climate change on the islands.
This was one of the outcomes of the Sixth UK-Caribbean Forum which ended on Tuesday.
A communiqué issued at the conclusion of the three-day event said that the UK had agreed "to fund capacity building initiatives in the Caribbean to facilitate a better understanding by policy-makers for climate change issues". The UK also confirmed its commitment to supporting the development of a CARICOM Strategy on Climate Change and an economic impact review, and assisting the region with its preparation for international negotiations on future global climate change frameworks and national development planning.
"Ministers used the forum to develop further, their understanding of the threat posed by climate change to security, prosperity and development and of the economic opportunities inherent in moving to a low carbon economy," the statement said.
"They agreed that the threat to shared security and prosperity is real and acute and that urgent action is required by the international community. Ministers agreed they would continue to work actively to raise awareness of the threats of climate change, especially to regions such as the Caribbean, and to create the political conditions to make a rapid transition to a global low carbon economy."
The UK added that it would continue to offer global leadership in the fight against climate change and push for deeper absolute emission reduction commitments by all developed countries, while Caribbean countries agreed to continue their advocacy on behalf of small island and low lying coastal states and to give priority to the development of adaptation strategies including through the critical work of the CARICOM Climate Change Centre.
"Ministers recognised the need for all countries to consider measurable, reportable and verifiable mitigation action. The Ministers agreed that greater attention should be given in the international negotiations to supporting adaptation programmes in small vulnerable economies such as those in the Caribbean which contribute the least to global warming and climate change but are among the most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change," the communiqué added.
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