A delegation from Antigua and Barbuda is currently participating in the Third NDC Finance Investment Forum in Grenada, seeking to secure climate financing for local resilience projects.
The forum, which runs from March 31 to April 2, has gathered Caribbean nations under the theme “Investing in Climate Action for a Resilient Future” to explore funding opportunities for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Senator Michael Joseph, Junior Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment, and Civil Service Affairs, leads the five-member delegation representing Antigua and Barbuda at the regional meeting.
The Antigua and Barbuda team includes Peter Abraham Jr, Debt Manager at the Ministry of Finance; Jason Peters, Water Manager at Antigua Public Utility Authority; Mali Barnes, Energy Officer at the Ministry of Energy; and Jaabari Reynolds, Technical Officer for Watershed Management and Protected Areas at the Department of Environment.
Organized by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission in collaboration with the European Union’s Euroclima Caribbean Programme, the event has drawn political support from both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the NDC Partnership.
Discussions at the three-day conference are centred on practical solutions to climate challenges, including debt swaps, carbon markets, and thematic bonds that could provide much-needed financing for small island developing states like Antigua and Barbuda.
The forum has also facilitated dialogue on energy transition topics such as electric vehicles, microgrids, and geothermal energy – all potential areas for investment in Antigua and Barbuda’s sustainable development.
Water security – a pressing concern for Caribbean nations facing increasingly severe drought conditions – features prominently on the agenda, with sessions on water resource management, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater treatment and reuse.
The participation of Antigua and Barbuda comes at a crucial time as the nation continues to strengthen its climate resilience measures while seeking sustainable financing options to support these initiatives.
Representatives from global institutions including the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the World Bank, and UN-Habitat are also attending the forum.
The delegation is expected to return to Antigua on Wednesday following the conclusion of the forum.
