Kingston, Jamaica. August 23, 2012, - Several Caribbean islands such as Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada are joining islands from the Pacific and the Indian Ocean in exploring the possibility of debt forgiveness for climate adaptation funding.
The two islands were a part of a high level meeting arranged by the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) and its partners to discuss the Blue and Green Economy from an island perspective at the recently concluded RIO+20 sustainable development conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“We were heavily affected by global financial crisis. We had 3 successive years of Gross Domestic Product decline – we had to do debt reconstruction. Our adaptation funds were cut. We have been partnering with TNC to develop a strategy for Antigua and Barbuda to explore climate adaptation funding,” said Nadia Spencer-Henry, Debt Manager in the Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Finance. “We want to be the first country (in the Caribbean) to do this and also to share our experiences.”
Indi McLymont-Lafayette, Regional director of Panos Caribbean, who attended the RIO conference as part of Jamaica’s official delegation, indicated that pursuit by national government of debt for nature might be a viable funding option. “This was a topic of significant discussion at several events I attended in Rio. It is clear that many islands are looking at the debt for adaptation swap. Indian Ocean islands such as the Seychelles, are further along in this discussion, but Antigua and Barbuda are also looking at that,” she said. “I am not sure if this is something Jamaica is looking at yet.”
'via Blog this'
No comments:
Post a Comment