Garth Simon from the Department of Environment Represents Antigua and Barbuda at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan)
Garth Simon, a representative of Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Environment, recently participated in an international event titled “Improving Climate Resilient Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Lessons Learned from the Adaptation Fund Portfolio and New Financing Windows,” held during the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event brought together leaders and experts from across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to share key insights and experiences from the Adaptation Fund’s portfolio, as well as introduce new financing windows under the Adaptation Fund’s Medium Term Strategy (MTS2) for 2023-2027.
COP29, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), serves as a platform for global leaders, policymakers, and advocates to collaborate on urgent climate issues, share best practices, and establish new strategies for adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development.
During the event, Simon showcased Antigua and Barbuda’s innovative climate adaptation efforts, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, local partnerships, and integrating both physical and financial resilience measures. His presentation highlighted the country’s “Integrated Approach to Physical Adaptation and Community Resilience in the Northwest McKinnons Watershed,” also known as the McKinnons Project. This project, funded by the Adaptation Fund, is designed to enhance the climate resilience of the McKinnons community by upgrading urban drainage systems and improving the McKinnons Waterway to reduce flood risks and increase water management capabilities.
“Community engagement and local partnerships have been instrumental in ensuring that adaptation solutions are not only sustainable but also practical and context-specific,” Simon stated. “Through the involvement of local organizations, we’re fostering a sense of ownership within communities, making these measures more effective and resilient in the long term.”
Simon also highlighted the SIRF Fund’s Climate Change Technologies and Just Transition of the Workforce Program, which aims to equip vulnerable communities with essential climate resilience technologies that would otherwise be financially inaccessible. This program provides support for technologies that help households and communities adapt to climate challenges, building readiness in the face of increasingly severe climate impacts.
“Through the support of the SIRF Fund, we are able to provide much-needed equipment and training to individuals who may not otherwise afford these resilience measures,” Simon explained. “This funding makes a significant difference, helping us protect communities against extreme weather and climate risks.”
The Adaptation Fund’s efforts in the region reflect a commitment to transformative climate adaptation, with the addition of new financing windows set to further support resilience initiatives in vulnerable communities. As Antigua and Barbuda continues to advance its resilience agenda, the Department of Environment looks forward to further collaboration with the Adaptation Fund and other partners across Latin America and the Caribbean.
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