The ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles has concluded with new commitments to climate adaptation and clean energy, as the Carribean Community (CARICOM) and the US Government have discussed a newly climate action plan launched by VP Kamala Harris.
The Summit focused on ‘Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future’ and included the participation of leaders from across the Caribbean.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with CARICOM members and Caribbean Heads of Government from 6 to 10 June.
“There’s a lot that I think we can and should do. This is a partnership. My intention is to intensify the relationship with the Caribbean. And I mean that sincerely. You’re critically important to us in every way, and I hope we’re important to you,” said President Biden.
In particular, US and CARICOM have further discussed the US-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030) launched by VP Harris. The new initiative aims to elevate US cooperation with Caribbean countries to support climate adaptation, strengthen energy security, and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
PACC 2030 will serve as the US Government’s primary mechanism for regional climate adaptation and resilience and energy cooperation through 2030, as partners work towards meeting the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The new partnership will specifically focus on improving access to development financing. Key actions under this pillar will include increasing US International Development Finance Corporation financing for climate and clean energy projects in underserved Caribbean countries.
The announcement comes as Caribbean and Latin American nations are still recovering from the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the Summit, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said: “Right now there’s a confluence of troubling global events that require our collective and strong leadership to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to respond adequately to climate change and surmount the challenges of food insecurity and escalating oil prices.”
“My government is particularly pleased that President Biden’s Americas Partnership aims to mobilise new financing and to revitalize multilateral development banks, revamping their lending policies to better meet the specific needs of the majority of our nations.”
Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, also addressed the myriad of challenges facing the hemisphere calling for collective action. The Prime Minster praised the partnership as a “real possibility of hope”.
Learn more: U.S. Embassy in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS
