Minister for Natural Resources Vincent Wheatley has stressed on the importance of Small Island Developing States utilising their respective legislation to collectively accelerate climate resilience in the region.
Minister Wheatley made the comment during his recent speech at the United Nations 2021 Climate Change Conference also referred to as COP26.
He was speaking during the Parliamentary Observatory for Climate Change and Just Transition segment for Latin America and Caribbean Parliaments, when he raised the point.
“While mitigation measures are paramount in global efforts to arrest climate change, the importance of adaptation cannot be forgotten. Latin America and the Caribbean’s ability to cope with the ongoing negative effects of climate change, especially among the Low-lying Coastal States and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) of the region, hinges on our ability to accelerate climate resilience using legislation that can, among other things, improve building codes that strengthen the ability of our housing and building infrastructure to withstand climate shocks,” Wheatley explained.
The minister said he was sure that the meeting would greatly assist all represented parliamentarians in transitioning their respective countries or territories to reach the common goal of reducing the carbon footprint in the region.
He said, “I am highly confident the Parliamentary Observatory for Climate Change and Just Transition will prove to be an invaluable asset to parliamentarians seeking to guide their parliaments’ efforts to help accelerate the national transition from carbon intensive societies to low carbon economies.”
“It is imperative that we all recognise that the responsibility to preserve life on this planet now falls on everyone, no matter how big or small their society. Just last week in my own constituency in the British Virgin Islands, a government-led initiative to develop a major solar farm on the island of Anegada has advanced,” he added.
Speaking from experience
Minister Wheatley said he was speaking from his experience gained in helping the BVI to recover following the devastating impact caused by the 2017 hurricanes.
“I speak from the experience of the British Virgin Islands as a post-disaster society that is still recovering from the devastation of two category five hurricanes in September 2017. You will recall that Hurricane Irma was one of the strongest hurricanes on record to pass over the Atlantic and Caribbean,” he stated.
He continued, “We have continued to strengthen our environmental policies and laws to conserve and protect our environment. For example, we have adopted stronger measures to protect mangrove forests that serve as natural coastal defences from storm surges and also absorb carbon dioxide from the air.”
Wheatley thanked all parties involved at the meeting.