Manhattan, New York (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terrance M. Drew, underscored the urgent need for climate financing and global cooperation during a high-level working lunch on international climate policy hosted by the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Olaf Scholz, and the Prime Minister of Samoa, Her Excellency Fiame Mata’afa on Sunday, 22 September 2024, at the Permanent Mission of Germany, United Nations Plaza in Manhattan, New York.
The event gathered key leaders from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and representatives of the Commonwealth and CARICOM to discuss the challenges faced by vulnerable nations, particularly in addressing climate change and the reform of the international financial architecture.
Prime Minister Dr. Drew delivered a powerful appeal on behalf of SIDS, outlining the critical threats posed by climate change, including extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and the unsustainable costs of adaptation.
“In St. Kitts and Nevis, we are categorised as a high-income country, yet our population is just 53,000. A single hurricane can wipe out 100 per cent or more of our GDP,” Prime Minister Dr.Drew said, illustrating the economic vulnerabilities small island nations face. “With the increasing threat of climate change, we are dealing with catastrophic impacts regularly, from severe droughts to the disappearance of our beaches and the destruction of key infrastructure.”
Prime Minister Dr Drew explained that adapting to these climate realities comes at an enormous cost.
“We used to be a water-rich country, but now we face severe drought. To cope, we’ve had to invest in desalination plants, which cost us $22 million just for one facility. That money could have gone toward healthcare or education, but without water, the country cannot function. This is just one example of how the cost of climate adaptation is far beyond our GDP,” said the prime minister.”
He highlighted the grave threat facing the region, noting that underground aquifers, the primary water source, are increasingly at risk due to saltwater infiltration caused by rising sea levels. Additionally, the tourism sector, a key source of foreign exchange, is jeopardised as beach erosion continues to diminish its appeal.
In addressing the urgent need for increased financial support, Prime Minister Dr Drew emphasised the critical situation facing small island nations and underscored the gravity of the challenge.
“We need access to financing not for luxury but for survival. But even with financing, if the big polluters continue to emit greenhouse gases, our existence remains in jeopardy. This is why we need collective action,” he stated.
The meeting, attended by leaders from Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and other CARICOM partners, also discussed renewable energy solutions as part of the region’s strategy for resilience. Prime Minister Drew highlighted the role of renewable energy in freeing up fiscal space, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and creating green jobs.
He expressed optimism about the future, emphasising that with collaboration and adequate support, a sustainable path forward can be achieved. However, he stressed the critical need for major polluters to reduce emissions to avert the irreversible destruction of the islands, as the survival of vulnerable nations hinges on these actions.
Chancellor Scholz and Prime Minister Mata’afa echoed the importance of global solidarity in combating climate change and pledged to explore innovative financial mechanisms to assist vulnerable nations.