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Ministry of Health & The Environment: The Honourable Michael Joseph, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, is currently participating in the inaugural OPEC Fund SIDS (Small Island Developing States) Summit, held from 12–13 May 2025 in Vienna, Austria.
Minister Joseph is accompanied by Climate Ambassador Ruleta Camacho Thomas.
The Summit convenes senior representatives from SIDS, international financial institutions, and development partners to strengthen cooperation and unlock climate and development finance solutions tailored to the needs of island nations.
Minister Joseph participated in a high-level ministerial roundtable on the structural and cross-cutting challenges facing SIDS.
The session addressed issues of debt sustainability, climate-health intersections, and access to affordable insurance.
Also featured on the panel was Her Excellency Kerryne James, Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment, and Renewable Energy of Grenada, alongside other regional leaders.
In his intervention, Minister Joseph highlighted the persistent financial barriers that hinder access to essential climate and disaster risk finance for SIDS.
Reflecting on the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events in the Caribbean, he stated, “For us, it is not a question of if, but when we will be impacted.
We need partners who understand our unique circumstances and are willing to respond accordingly.”
The Minister emphasized that while insurance is currently profit-driven, it must evolve to become an instrument of development and recovery.
He noted the urgent need to address the retreat of reinsurance from vulnerable markets and underscored the importance of establishing mechanisms that allow for rapid disbursement of funds following disasters.
He reiterated the call for the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) to be adopted as a tool for determining eligibility for concessional finance and disaster risk instruments.
Minister Joseph also presented key national project ideas focused on strengthening resilience through climate-smart infrastructure, renewable energy, and health system readiness.
These initiatives, form part of Antigua and Barbuda’s broader strategy for sustainable development and adaptation.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Minister Joseph held bilateral talks with Her Excellency Ms. Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria.
Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation, including support for capacity building, technology innovation, and advancing a risk-informed multilateral financing architecture that responds to the vulnerabilities of SIDS.
Ambassador Ruleta Camacho Thomas also contributed to the strategic discussions, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches to climate, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods in advancing resilience for Caribbean SIDS.
Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to championing international cooperation that prioritizes equity, innovation, and resilience for vulnerable Countries.
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This could open doors for funding on green tech. Fingers crossed!
Did anyone catch if there was talk of lowering fuel costs for island states?
Interesting to see OPEC partnering with SIDS.
Small islands have a lot to teach about sustainable energy—glad we’re sharing our perspective.
Joy ride is what this Jr is busy going on for photo op.