US/Caribbean to address climate crisis; CARICOM leaders to engage Vice President Harris on issue

President Irfaan Ali meeting with President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. [Photo: Office of the President]

Caribbean leaders will be engaging with Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris to address climate change at the Ninth Summit of the Americas. This comes on the heels of a newly announced U.S-Caribbean Partnership to Address Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030).

President of the United States Joe Biden on Wednesday evening announced the US-Caribbean Partnership that will address the Climate Crisis.

President Joe Biden. [Photo: Office of the President]

Several Caribbean Leaders including President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, Chair of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Belize John Bricenio were present at the Inaugural Ceremony of the IX Summit of the Americas, where the announcement was made.

Caribbean leaders at the XI Summit of the Americas. [Photo: Office of the President]

Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris will spearhead this new initiative on Climate Crisis, President Joe Biden said.

In this regard, Caribbean leaders will be engaging Vice President Harris on this initiative including clean energy, today, at the sidelines of the ongoing summit.

“In the next few days, we’ll be rolling out a new initiative creating a cooperation between many of your countries and includes the US Caribbean partnership to address the climate crisis,” President Biden stated.

According to the White House fact sheet, this collaboration is “a new framework to elevate U.S. cooperation with Caribbean countries to support climate adaptation and strengthen energy security, while building the resilience of critical infrastructure and local economies to the climate crisis. “

The White House explained that to achieve these objectives, PACC 2033 will organise its activities and programmes under four pillars including; improving access to development financing, facilitating clean energy project development and investment, enhancing local capacity and deepening collaboration with Caribbean countries.

Caribbean leaders are also looking to explore economic relationships and common goals for the hemisphere as well.

The Summit that is held in Los Angeles California is held under the theme, “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future."

President Ali is leading a delegation from Guyana, which includes First Lady Arya Ali, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, and Ambassador George Talbot.