Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) president Dr Gene Leon wants the international community to fulfil financial commitments to help Barbados and other Caribbean states battle the effects of climate change.
He made the call today, while saying he was encouraged by undertakings made at the ongoing United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 26).
Leon, who is leading a CDB delegation to COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland was speaking during an online panel discussion organised by the CDB and the European Investment Bank.
“From the climate side, we need to rebuild confidence that the international community really appreciates and can commit to helping move towards a better space from a climate side, and that means simply living up to the commitments that have been made with regard to helping to finance,” he said.
“That, I think for me, is the beginning. It has to be the catalyst that says we have confidence things are changing. I think if you can do that, then it will catalyse a number of other things like private sector or, for that matter, governments, feeling that they can do a little more, they would not be stuck out on a limb.”
Leon said he was encouraged that COP26 would result in a positive outcome for the Caribbean’s efforts to adapt to global warming.
“Absolutely I am encouraged, absolutely I am optimistic, but it will depend a lot on us, how we make use of whatever support that is pledged, that is promised, . . . [and] we have to be able to take that responsibility to deliver on it,” the economist added. (SC)
