Two days, ten countries, countless ideas but one mission – advancing climate action through the commitment to ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the region. 

On June 21 and 22, 2022 the United National Development Programme (UNDP) Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean hosted the Climate Promise Sub-regional Forum on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Antigua and Barbuda. The hybrid event combined virtual and in person attendees and panellists representing several countries in the Caribbean as well as regional and international agencies to discuss plans and strategies for accelerating the NDC agenda.  

Speaking on the opening day, Ambassador Pilgrim from Antigua and Barbuda in his welcome described participants as “change leaders” and highlighted the importance of forums such as these which not only allow for knowledge-sharing but create a perfect melting pot of diverse actors to catapult ideas into action for the preservation of lives and livelihoods in the region. 

Ambassador Black-Layne in her remarks conveyed greetings on behalf of the Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph, Minister of Health, Wellness & The Environment, who was of the view that young people can transition and transform economies. She opined that energy, construction and other businesses could be formed from the climate agenda, an opinion that was echoed throughout the panel discussions on Day 1.  

Ugo Blanco, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, reinforced the importance of the climate change conversation, noting that there was no “Plan B or Planet B” and encouraged participants to use the session to collaborate and propel climate action. He expressed the importance of being able to measure these efforts empirically. “Climate change is a top priority… we have to talk about indicators about targets because if we cannot measure it is very difficult to see if we are progressing in the right direction,” he explained in his address to those in attendance. 

The two-day forum provided a platform for robust discussion on addressing the data gaps to effectively implement NDCs in the region, energy security, communicating about climate, mainstreaming gender in climate action and mobilizing sustainable financing. In the interactive sessions, participants highlighted the need to identify and anticipate the needed skills so that they align with sectors described in the NDCs, as well as devising clear strategies for private sector involvement.

The sessions included speakers and technical experts from countries in the region, including IRENA, the Ministry of Environment Rural Modernisation & Kalinago Upliftment of the Commonwealth of Dominica, UNDP, Climate Analytics, and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) among others. Key partners such as the International Labor Organization (ILO), the NDC Partnership, the European Union (EU), Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), and Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) also participated. 

The sub-regional forum allowed necessary conversations between the private sector, government, development agencies and financiers. Closing the session, Dominica’s Minister of the Environment, Rural Modernisation, and Kalinago Upliftment, Hon. Cozier Frederick, noted the importance of this type of dialogue especially for policy makers. He said, “As we [Dominica] move forward to be the first climate resilient country… we are not doing this in isolation we are doing this based on conversations that we have been having and one of those we have here today, and it is so important because as we see throughout the region we have unique island situations, but we also have common threads that affect all of us.” Speaking to similar threats and opportunities of Small Island Development States, he added, “While we do have our separate jurisdictions, it is important to pull all of [our efforts] to truly effect change across the Caribbean region.”  

The mandate of NDCs include management of greenhouse gases, natural resources and a more inclusive approach to sustainability. To date, UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean has supported Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Carriacou Petit Martinique and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the implementation of the NDCs. The efforts of these countries in the Caribbean will guarantee a more sustainable future. 

As exogenous threats like COVID-19 continue to impact the region, it is vital to reinforce the need for regional resilience, building forward better and bolstering livelihoods for vulnerable groups. UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, in partnership with governments and stakeholders, remains dedicated to the advancement of inclusive and sustainable development throughout the region. This intervention is part of the work of UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean in its commitment to promoting economic diversification, job creation and resilience with the "Blue Economy for Green Islands" vision.  

For media queries please contact Shani Leacock: shani.leacock@undp.org