Brasilia
– British Virgin Islands Special Envoy Mr. Benito Wheatley has emphasised the importance of Latin America and the Caribbean’s support for the Brazilian Presidency of COP30 in delivering a just outcome at the upcoming climate change talks in Belem, Brazil where the Caribbean and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) will continue their fight for climate justice as global attention has shifted away from the climate crisis to tariffs and conflicts in recent months.
BVI Special Envoy Benito Wheatley and COP30 President Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago.The Special Envoy made the call at the Federative Republic of Brazil during a special two-day meeting of representatives and parliamentarians from across Latin America and the Caribbean who presented an official letter of support to His Excellency Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, President of COP30, who presented the Brazilian Government’s climate priorities.
In his panel remarks, Mr. Wheatley said, “The Caribbean is among the smallest CO2 emitters in the world but yet at greatest risk from the negative impacts of climatic change resulting from global warming driven by global emissions. We did not create this problem, and we alone should not have to bear the cost of reinforcing and rebuilding our societies from hurricanes and other climate impacts. We need climate justice. If global temperatures continue to rise at the current pace and exceed 1.5C, the Caribbean will eventually become an uninhabitable place to live.
The support of Latin America and the Caribbean is critical to Brazil’s push for a just outcome when world leaders meet later this year.” In a personal exchange with Ambassador Corrêa, the Special Envoy thanked the Government of Brazil for their engagement with the Caribbean on priorities for climate action as vulnerable Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The second Parliamentary Summit on Climate Change and Just Transition of Latin America and the Caribbean took place from 6th to 7th August in Brasilia, Brazil and was organised by the Parliamentary Observatory for Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). The British Virgin Islands currently serves as a Vice Chair of ECLAC, the Regional Conference on South-South Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee.
