Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 20, 2022 (SKNIS): A Climate Resilient Unit will be established in St. Kitts and Nevis, as the Government pursues a robust response to reduce the impact of climate change and create a sustainable twin-island Federation.
The establishment of the unit was inspired by discussions at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) which was attended by a high-level delegation including the Minister of Environment and Climate Action, the Honourable Dr Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Right Honourable Dr Denzil Douglas, and Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, the Honourable Konris Maynard.
“The Foreign Minister and the Minister of Energy walked up to me, and I said we need to get this done. We need an agency that can push for energy security, climate resilience, diplomacy and sustainability, climate-smart agriculture technology, and sustainable industries which address economic development and tourism,” Senator Clarke said, as she presented on the final day of the Budget Debate on December 19, 2022.
The National Assembly approved a Budget of more than $6.5 million in recurrent expenditure to fund the Ministry of Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment for the fiscal year 2023.
“That call at COP27 has been answered by the Prime Minister’s injection of millions of dollars to support the Climate Action Unit. It will be done, and I’m very proud of that,” Dr Clarke expressed.
The Minister said that government officials will continue to “travel with a purpose” to important international fora where meaningful face-to-face engagements can take place with diplomatic allies benefiting the Federation’s population