Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Right Honourable Gaston A. Browne, has held high-level discussions with the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Ms. Mafalda Duarte, and members of her team, aimed at securing increased climate financing to advance Antigua and Barbuda’s national priorities in climate adaptation, renewable energy development and resilience-building.
The meeting, held on the margins of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, formed part of the Prime Minister’s continued diplomatic efforts to mobilise international financial and technical support to address the growing threats posed by climate change to Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
During the discussions, Prime Minister Browne outlined several priority areas in which enhanced GCF support could deliver meaningful and lasting benefits to Antigua and Barbuda, particularly in strengthening the country’s capacity to withstand increasingly severe climate-related events.
Climate-resilient housing featured prominently in the discussions, with the Prime Minister emphasising the urgent need for financial assistance to improve housing conditions and provide safer, more resilient homes for vulnerable families and communities. He noted that investments in resilient housing are essential to protecting lives, reducing disaster-related losses and safeguarding the livelihoods of those most exposed to hurricanes and other extreme weather events.
The Prime Minister also identified coastal erosion and shoreline degradation as pressing national concerns requiring targeted investment. He sought the Fund’s support for coastal protection, shoreline restoration and other adaptation initiatives designed to preserve vulnerable coastal communities, protect tourism assets and strengthen the country’s natural defences against rising sea levels and increasingly intense storm surges.
Another major focus of the engagement was the resilience of Antigua and Barbuda’s critical national infrastructure, particularly its international airport and seaport. Prime Minister Browne underscored the strategic importance of these facilities to the country’s tourism-dependent economy, international trade and connectivity, stressing that their continued operation and long-term protection are essential to national economic security.
Discussions also examined opportunities for expanding investments in renewable energy as Antigua and Barbuda accelerates its transition away from fossil fuels. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of accessing affordable financing and technical expertise to support clean energy generation, improve energy security and reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
Both sides explored the development of a coordinated programme of climate-related investments that could facilitate greater access to GCF resources and advance a comprehensive national strategy for adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development.
Prime Minister Browne reiterated that the growing risk of global temperatures exceeding the 1.5°C threshold presents an existential challenge for Small Island Developing States, making the timely delivery of adequate and accessible climate financing more urgent than ever.
He emphasised that countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, which contribute negligibly to global greenhouse gas emissions, should not be left to shoulder the disproportionate financial burden of responding to a climate crisis they did little to create.
The Prime Minister further underscored the need for international climate financing mechanisms to be more responsive to the circumstances of small island economies, including through simplified access procedures, affordable financing arrangements and sustained support for nationally determined development priorities.
The engagement with the Green Climate Fund represents another important step in Antigua and Barbuda’s efforts to deepen cooperation with international climate financing institutions and position the country to benefit from increased investment in critical resilience and sustainable development projects.
Prime Minister Browne’s discussions at COP31 reaffirm his administration’s commitment to translating international climate advocacy into practical partnerships and tangible investments that protect communities, strengthen national infrastructure, advance energy independence and secure a more resilient future for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: PM Browne Seeks More Climate Funding to Protect Homes, Coastlines and Airports in Antigua and Barbuda.