At this decade’s summit for Small Island Developing States, Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who is also the summit president, harshly criticized the “empty” and “grossly inadequate” climate pledges from wealthy nations. He accused these nations of failing to meet their obligations to limit the damages caused by carbon emissions.
Small island states in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Caribbean, which contribute minimally to global emissions, are particularly vulnerable to economic crises and rising temperatures due to their susceptibility to natural disasters, high debt levels, and dependence on imports and tourism.
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The Atlantic hurricane season, which begins in June, is expected to be more active than usual because of near-record warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures and cooler surface waters in the Pacific.
“It is not sufficient for nations to simply make empty and grossly inadequate commitments under the Paris Agreement,” Browne said, referencing the 2015 treaty aimed at limiting emissions and preventing global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This threshold is considered crucial to avoiding severe and irreversible climate events. Scientists have warned that without aggressive action, the planet is on track to warm between 2.5C and 2.9C.
Browne called for increased climate financing, a global carbon tax on oil companies, an end to fossil fuel subsidies, and a faster transition to renewable energy sources. He urged wealthy nations to fulfill their promise of providing $100 billion annually to poorer countries to help reduce emissions and mitigate extreme weather impacts.
A Reuters investigation revealed that much of the funds sent so far have been funneled back to rich nations. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized that Small Island Developing States have “every right” to demand better financing options and greater contributions to the “loss and damage” fund.
“The idea that an entire island state will become collateral damage for profiteering by the fossil fuel industry or competition between major economies is simply obscene,” Guterres said.
The loss and damage fund, announced at last year’s COP28 summit after persistent calls from island states, was designed to help poor countries recover from climate disasters. However, funding from wealthy nations has been insufficient.
“The major contributors to climate change have failed to meet their obligations,” Browne asserted.Antigua PM blasts ’empty’ climate promises
