Gaston Alfonso Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, praised the role of the UAE in addressing climate change globally and in supporting other countries.
He pointed to the UAE’s contribution to the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund, as well as the importance of its announcement of a US$30 billion Global Climate Fund.
In his statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of COP28, he said, “The UAE has played a leading role in this regard, and is moving in the right direction in addressing climate change. Ultimately, we want to see a reduction in global emissions.”
He expressed his hope that the pledges would lead to tangible funding for vulnerable countries, especially small island states, stressing the need for major progress to achieve the goal of keeping global temperatures below 1.5 °C and avoid the disappearance of some areas in the Caribbean, the Pacific Ocean, and small island states.
He added, “We are currently burning the planet and human civilisation will be
affected, so it is important that we increase our ambition and our goals before we cause irreparable damage to the planet.”
The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda underscored the importance of the transition to renewable energy sources, especially for those living in small island states, noting that they are on the front lines of climate change.
He said, “Although our emissions are relatively low and insignificant, we suffer disproportionately from the consequences.”
He stressed that the focus and continuation of climate efforts is not only aimed at protecting the interests of the region countries, but also at protecting the interests of humanity at large.
He said, “We are insignificant contributors to carbon emissions, rather we believe we are carbon negative because our region and our seas isolate a lot of carbon, but despite that, we believe that we must be a role model, so we have installed a number of renewable energy plants, wind energy, and solar energy.”
Regarding the percentage of renewable e
nergy from the energy mix in Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Alfonso Browne pointed out that it currently stands at 20 percent, with efforts intensifying to reach 50 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2040.
Source: Emirates News Agency