BARBADOS SUMMIT COMES TO A CLOSE

Today is the final day of the 48th regular meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders in Barbados.  Peter Richards has the details.

Transcript

00:00Well, we didn't focus extensively on climate, even though climate remains perhaps the most

00:05significant existential threat facing the region.

00:08You know, we have many fora in which we have discussed the issue of climate change, and

00:13we continue to advocate for the full capitalization and operationalization of the Loss and Damage

00:23Fund.

00:24I mean, that is our major issue at this time.

00:26And obviously, we continue to push the major emitters to reduce emissions.

00:33And even within our own space, we are looking at other green energy technologies to include

00:40hydrogen technologies.

00:42You'd recognize that the president of the European Union would have suggested that perhaps

00:47there could be some partnership going forward with hydrogen technologies, as most of the

00:55ships, for example, will transition into using hydrogen energy.

01:01So general discussions, there wasn't any extensive discussions on the issue of climate, per se.

01:06On the question of climate change, Prime Minister, there is a suggestion that Caribbean countries

01:11have been asked to more or less mobilize and make sure that the 1.5 degrees is maintained.

01:19Could you give us some more details?

01:21Well, we have been discussing climate change.

01:23As you know, the Caribbean region is on the front line of climate change.

01:27You see the hurricane, Hurricane Mary, for example, the Sardinian nature shores, the

01:32higher temperatures, and everything that is involved.

01:35And so we have been advocating strongly that climate change is real and that the world

01:40need to act as one to deal with this.

01:43And so we have been mobilized, and others might say, let's mobilize more.

01:46But the Caribbean will continue to push as much as possible so that this matter is dealt

01:52with.

01:53We see some improvements here and there, but we know that much more can be done.

01:57We are the victims of climate change, we are not the producers, or we did not cause this.

02:02And so we are asking for climate justice.

02:04So yes, the Caribbean will mobilize even more and continue to push the issue of climate

02:09change to bring justice for all of our people.

02:12Reporting for CCN TV6 from Barbados, I am Peter Richard.

02:16Thanks.