PRESS RELEASE – (City of Belmopan, Belize; April 29, 2021.) Media from around the world gathered for an inaugural brief on a newly created International climate consortium, the new Allied For Climate Transformation (ACT).  The media briefing was held virtually on Thursday, April 29, by the World Resources Institute (WRI), and discussed Biden’s Leaders’ Summit, climate finance and other key negotiations topics expected at COP26.

Speaking at the briefing were several giant climate change leaders representing developing countries from around the World. Among these were Powershift Africa, based in Kenya, the Centre for Climate Change and Development of Nigeria, the International Centre for Climate Change and Development of Bangladesh, Manilla Observatory, Tranforma and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) based in Belize.

Dr Mark Bynoe, Assistant Executive Director of the CCCCC, during his presentation to the media, emphasized the double misfortune of climate change and COVID 19 which is exacerbating the already vulnerable economies of the Caribbean.  “While the Caribbean community continues to be a leader in the climate change arena, having coined the phrase ‘1.5 to Stay Alive’ that has become a global rallying cry to reduce climate change impacts, it is now essential that our efforts be built upon to provide more resilience-building, and impactful outcomes”, he underscored.  

Citing the devastation caused by “extreme weather events such as hurricane Maria which destroyed 100% of the housing stock in Dominica and Barbuda in 2017, a 1 in 100-year flood that wiped out 62% of Guyana’s GDP in 2005, and hurricane Ivan that destroyed 100% of Grenada’s GDP in 2004,” Dr Bynoe asserted that “we cannot be involved in tokenism and platitudes, but in substance, if we are to realise the ambitions committed to under the Paris Agreement. 

With the approach of COP 26 what the Caribbean needs is greater ambition he added “in the areas of (i) finance, (ii) adaptation support and (iii) emissions reduction in every conceivable way, inclusive of reduced deforestation that can help stem biodiversity loss as well as slow animal migrations that can increase risk of infectious disease spread.”

The new Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025) consortium according to the World Resource Institute (WRI) “consists mainly of thought leaders from developing countries around the world and is focused on elevating the voices of the vulnerable to reach just and ambitious outcomes at UN climate negotiations leading up to and during COP26.”

The consortium convenes, and mobilises key experts, and strengthens the capacity of stakeholders to “identify together the necessary elements for the design of a strong ambition, solidarity and prosperity package for the upcoming COP 26 in the UK and COP 27 in Africa”.

Dr Bynoe was one of seven high-level champions from around the World who addressed the media briefing, today.

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The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre is an inter-governmental Caribbean Community (CARICOM) institution that is mandated by the CARICOM Heads of Government to coordinate the Region’s response to climate change. We maintain the Caribbean’s most extensive repository of information and data on climate change specific to the region, which in part enables us to provide climate change-related policy advice and guidelines to CARICOM Member States.  In this role, the Centre is recognized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Environment Programme, and other international agencies as the focal point for climate change issues in the Caribbean. The Centre is also one of the few institutions recognized as a Centre of Excellence by United Nations Institute for Training and Research. CCCCC is empowering the Caribbean Community to act on climate change. -END-