KINGSTON (CU)_The COP26 President-Designate, Alok Sharma, paid a two-day visit to Jamaica on Monday (5 July), during which he met with several officials from the Caribbean island, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness. He also welcomed Jamaica’s contribution towards global efforts on climate change ahead of the UN climate talks (COP26) later this year.
“Jamaica is a clear leader on climate action. I have been delighted to hear how this inspiring island is bringing other countries on its journey, and I encourage Prime Minister Holness to continue to be a vocal spokesperson for how climate change is impacting developing countries and particularly small island states,” he said.
The two officials discussed the progress made during the recent G7 summit held in Cornwall, and emphasised the need to encourage wealthy countries to deliver on their commitment to jointly mobilise US$100 billion annually in support of developing nations to respond to climate change. “Countries like Jamaica on the front line of climate change have done the least to cause climate change and it is on all G20 countries to step up and deliver urgent climate action,” Sharma noted.
According to a statement issued by the United Kingdom’s Cabinet Office on Thursday, as co-chairs of the NDC Partnership, London and Kingston are working closely in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C, which was agreed under the Paris Agreement five years ago. The goal of the partnership is to support countries around the world to commit to ambitious targets on minimising carbon emissions through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Speaking during his visit to the Caribbean island, the COP26 President-Designate noted that the NDC Partnership sets a “gold standard” for the kind of global alliance needed to achieve these goals.
He hopes to welcome Jamaica’s Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Pearnel Charles Jr., to a ministerial meeting that will be hosted by London later this month in order to explore tangible solutions to some of the most pressing issues pertinent to climate change.
