KINGSTON, Jamaica–The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is calling on the Government to use the occasion of the 48th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government to advocate for greater support from the international community to assist the Caribbean in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

PNP spokesperson on foreign and regional affairs, Dr Angela Brown-Burke, in a statement on Wednesday, said last month’s appointment of a CARICOM Climate Envoy signalled a clear commitment by Caribbean states to elevate regional climate priorities and to commit the necessary human resources and political capital to advance the cause of climate resilience.

“With the very recent appointment of CARICOM’s climate envoy, it is incumbent on the Jamaican government to support this new drive by the region to actualise a key gain from COP29, which was the agreement to set a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, which now aims to mobilise at least $300 billion annually by 2035 to assist developing nations in mitigating and adapting to climate change. This new target replaces the previous $100 billion annual goal and seeks to address the financial needs of vulnerable countries like Jamaica more effectively,” she said.

Brown-Burke also urged the government to support the recent call by Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley and the Global Climate Vulnerable Forum to adopt a new approach to understanding and confronting inequities in accessing critical climate financing by leveraging the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI).

She said the ability to access needed climate finance is largely dependent on a country’s gross national income (GNI), which often does not provide an accurate picture of the underlying vulnerabilities that small island developing states (SIDS) face in recovering from a major economic shock, such as a catastrophic hurricane. This new MVI measurement being considered by the United Nations would enable small island nations to access the concessional financing that they need to literally weather the storm, she said.

The opposition spokesperson also called for more vocal support for the Bridgetown Initiative, championed by Prime Minister Mottley and CARICOM, which seeks to garner increased climate financing, resilience-building, and sustainable development for vulnerable nations.

“Over the past three years, the Bridgetown Initiative has gained international traction for its innovative solutions in addressing the financial constraints that small island developing states (SIDS) face when dealing with climate change. With a focus on reforming global financial institutions, increasing concessional financing, and ensuring swift access to climate adaptation funds, the initiative seeks to empower nations that bear the brunt of climate-related disasters,” she said.

“Given the existential threat posed by rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss, CARICOM member states have been encouraged to align national policies with the Bridgetown Accords to amplify their collective voice on the international stage, thereby strengthening the Caribbean’s position in global climate negotiations and advocating for fair financial mechanisms and policies that address the region’s unique vulnerabilities.”

The 48th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government convened in Barbados on February 19 and will run until February 21, under the leadership of Barbados Prime Minister and current CARICOM Chair Mia Mottley, who will spotlight the climate crisis and the need to quickly implement key commitments from the 29th Conference of Parties (COP).