St. Kitts and Nevis: The Minister of Environment and Climate Action, Dr Joyelle Clarke, during Prime Minister’s press conference held on January 18, has recently conveyed that the federation of St Kitts and Nevis continues to push its plans and preparations forward regarding the 28th Session of the COP28 (Conference of Parties), which will commence on November 30 to December 12, 2023.
As per the recent updates, the COP28 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this year. The information came during the meeting held with the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Ministers at the National Emergency Management Agency Conference Room (NEMA).
During the meeting, Environment Minister Dr Joyelle Clarke stated that the ministry has decided to expand the delegation and other processes before participating in COP28. The Environment Ministry has been closely monitoring the selection of personnel to assist with the New York Mission.
For the Oasis Delegation, the department has finalized another young person to be part of it, so they would have enough time to closely understand the process and get appropriate training and development to lend to the Damage and Loss Conversation, said Dr Clarke.
In addition, Minister Clarke also pointed out that ‘’The Ministry has been taking part in the regional conversation regarding the identification of the suitable focal points and heads to sit on the transitional committee for Damage and Loss’’. ‘’The department is backing the delegates from Barbados and Suriname,’’ she added.
Furthermore, the federation of St Kitts and Nevis has been looking forward to working at a local level as a process to mandate COP27 as a ‘Mini-Cop’ by which young persons and individuals could motivate and join the conversation needed on Damage and Loss, said Clarke.
As per the reports, the results coming out from the COP27 in 2022, Egypt helped establish and operationalize the Damage and Loss Fund, which prime focus is to provide assistance to the countries in terms of finances who are most vulnerable and affected by the clime change.
In his remarks, Dr Clarke stressed that educating people on environmental and climate matters is necessary and should be considered the top priority.