Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne, who has been branded as a champion for island states at the United Nations General Assembly, has taken aim at European countries for the climate injustice being perpetuated by the carbon market industry.
The industry provides major incentives to companies and governments for their actions in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, proven as the main contributor to climate change and its dreaded consequences for many island states.
Prime Minister Browne, speaking at a number of major engagements yesterday, offered scorching criticism of the Carbon trading system as a profiteering scheme that benefits only the rich polluters.
Pointing to scientific data, Prime Minister Browne said the use of carbon credits isn’t working as originally intended as more carbon has been dumped into the atmosphere in 2023 than in 2022.
“And what we have been told is that these companies have been paid about 200 billion dollars and at the same time these funds have not been distributed equitably to developing countries, especially small island developing states. In fact, it is fair to ask if the polluters are not paying themselves,” Prime Minister Browne stated.
He was at the time speaking at the Global Citizen Forum as the only Head of State or Government of a distinguished panel of economists and scientists addressing the need for a global tax on fossil fuels. Prime Minister Browne lamented that climate finance commitments fall woefully short than what is required to avert an intensification of the climate crisis.
Afterwards, he held dialogue with the Co-Founder and CEO of Global Citizens Hugh Evans and both men exchanged thoughts on a few initiatives expected to increase awareness about the various ills that are impacting small states.
Following the panel discussion, Prime Minister Browne was interviewed by Reuters, a leading international news agency covering the General Assembly. The Prime Minister reinforced his point regarding climate finance, noting that “We are not benefiting from the reduction in emissions in order to reduce global temperatures. The storms and climate events are becoming more ferocious and more frequent. We are suffering disproportionately; it is an extremely inequitable situation.”
“What we are asking for here is some level of climate justice as well as financial justice so we can raise the necessary funding to mitigate and adapt and ensure there is compensation where there is loss and damage from these climate events,” he argued.
Prime Minister Browne, a respected and sought after voice on climate change, international finance reform and sustainable development matters, also attended an event at the Family Offices for sustainable development where he encouraged the invited guests to invest in the SIDS Centre of Excellence, a major outcome of the SIDS4 Conference held in Antigua and Barbuda in May.
Prime Minister Browne was also interviewed in the SDG Media Zone at the United Nations headquarters by CNN Climate and Environmental Justice reporter Rachel Ramirez on his expectations for COP29 in Azerbaijan and how he intends to support the effort to fully implement the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, the ABAS.
Joining Prime Minister Browne on the interview was Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Walton Webson. The senior Antiguan and Barbudan diplomat provided a progress report on the Centre of Excellence and the role he expects it to play in addressing the issues associated with the sustainable development of SIDS and the consequences of climate change.
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This man is very skilled, there he goes preying on the conscience of people about pollution to monetize it while white people pay him home in Antigua to pollute the environment and even the socio spaces with buffer zone deferential living area for people by ethnicity and color with the Caucasian getting the top spots like beach front lands, give me money! Give me money ! Blah? Blah! Oops! They probably heard about me and PLH on barbuda environment, Biden invite him for lunch for empowering white people to his countries resource, only there can america bring financial sanctions against countries because all the economy is headed by white people.
While fighting for them to be allowed to kill whales. Reading these things are so annoying. Some day soon accountability will happen. You are here talking about polution because it will get you money but also supporting the killing of the environment, whales, because that is bringing you money, if you support it.
The Un allows for the formation SIDS and throw a little funding behind it. These conferences have no impact on the gravy train Gaston hopes to see.
This is just a repeat of Gaston’s performance earlier this year
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/caribbean-leader-blasts-empty-climate-promises-small-islands-summit-2024-05-27/
The people who are expected to provide the funds are laughing at Gaston behind closed doors. The WTO funds are likely to come sooner.
This may read well for the people at home that their Prime Minister is punching above his weight; and that about it.
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