Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kerrie Symmonds (FILE)

Climate change plea

Article by Carlos Atwell

If the region is going to make representations to the international arena concerning renewable energy and climate change, it must first get its act together, says Minister of Energy Kerrie Symmonds.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley who was unable to attend the opening ceremony of the 7th Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum at Hilton Barbados yesterday, Symmonds said it was difficult enough sourcing international funding to mitigate climate change without being divided.

“The time has come for us to try even harder. We have to acknowledge the need to save ourselves is our own responsibility and we cannot rely on the developed world to [do it] for us. We as a people and a region must bear responsibility for saving ourselves through efforts made at mitigation and adaptation, and with skill sets we must quickly acquire if our future development in energy, transport and general economic productivity are to continue,” he added

The minister said CARICOM had been advocating for its member states and negotiating various developmental renewable energy programmes, but it was up to each country to buy in and see beyond its own borders. (CA)

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