Well-Attended Side Event Curaçao and BES Envoy at UN Climate Summit

News item | 11-11-2024 | 00:00

De klimaattop heeft als thema ‘In Solidarity for a Green World’ en staat onder andere in het teken van het vaststellen van een nieuw klimaatfinancieringsdoel en de vijfjaarlijkse nationale klimaatplannen.

SNIJs, waaronder de Caribische delen van het Koninkrijk, dragen het minste bij aan klimaatverandering, maar ondervinden als eerste de gevolgen en hebben nauwelijks toegang tot fondsen om zich er tegen te beschermen. Dat laatste was het centrale thema van het side-event waarvoor voorzitter Albert Martis van het Curaçao Climate Change Platform en Speciaal Gezant voor Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba bij de EU en de VN Edison Rijna de aftrap gaven.

“Eilanden zoals de onze worden getroffen door dezelfde stormen, zeespiegelstijging en economische verstoringen, maar missen vaak de financiële mogelijkheden die nodig zijn om zich aan te passen. We moeten druk blijven uitoefenen, blijven pleiten en samen blijven aandringen, als een verenigd front”, aldus Rijna die optimistisch was over de kansen tijdens COP29 een eerste stap te zetten naar een Memorandum of Understanding over klimaatfinanciering voor kleine eilandstaten.

Martis betoogde dat de SNIJs – geconfronteerd met existentiële bedreigingen voor hun economieën, hun gemeenschappen en hun manier van leven – op een kruispunt staan. “Door ons als mondiale coalitie te verenigen, kunnen we effectiever pleiten voor speciale financieringsmechanismen die zijn afgestemd op de behoeften van SNIJs. We zijn geen passieve slachtoffers; we zijn oplossingszoekers, vernieuwers en samenwerkers. Samen zullen we een toekomst bouwen waarin SNIJs gedijen, en bewijzen dat met collectieve inzet en actie, veerkracht en welvaart binnen ons bereik liggen.”

Na de openingstoespraken volgde een paneldiscussie met o.a. chief of the Small Island Developing States Unit at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sai Navoti en special gezant voor klimaat en milieu bij de European External Action Service Tony Agotha. COP29 duurt tot en met 22 november. Als lid van de Koninkrijksdelegatie zal BES Gezant Rijna de komende dagen benutten voor het versterken van zijn netwerk.

Toespraak BES Gezant Rijna

As we say in Papiamentu: Bon tardi, Bon Bini, Good afternoon, Welcome at this side event we are organizing together with our sister island Curacao and Island Innovation organization.

It is for me an honor to be here today as we discuss one of the defining challenges of our time, namely: climate financing for Subnational Island Jurisdictions to so-called SNIJs.

This conversation is timely and essential, as islands around the world, whether recognized as SIDS or not, face a unique and often dire vulnerability to climate change. We must now come together to find viable, sustainable solutions that extend to all islands in need of support.

Recently, during the SIDS4 conference in Antigua and Barbuda, we shared a collective vision for resilience and adaptation—a vision grounded in collaboration and action.

However, while Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have made strides in securing some level of support and recognition on the international stage, many islands that do not hold SIDS status continue to face similar existential threats without sufficient access to climate finance.

Islands like ours, the SNIJs, confront identical storms, sea-level rise, draughts and economic disruptions, but often lack the financial pathways necessary to adapt and thrive.

Ladies and gentlemen today, we are fortunate to witness a significant step forward, namely: the presentation of the first proposed funding solutions for SNIJs by a dedicated legal expert. This proposal, which explores pathways for financing climate adaptation and mitigation, is a welcome and necessary development for SNIJs everywhere. It provides the framework for our islands to secure the resources needed to mitigate climate risks effectively, and I cannot stress enough how vital it is to support this initiative with unwavering commitment from all our islands.

But to bring this framework to life, we need collective determination and collaboration. We must maintain pressure, keep advocating, and continue pushing—together, as a united front. The blueprint presented today will need the backing of policy-makers, financial institutions, private sector actors, and, of course, the communities we serve. The vision for a funding structure is there, but it will require champions in every sector, from local governments to global institutions, to make it a reality.

Our SNIJs must also look beyond traditional pathways to embrace innovative financing solutions and collaborations. This event highlights a promising opportunity to foster resilience through partnerships.

Whether through shared knowledge, regional collaborations, or joint initiatives, we can strengthen our islands’ capacities, building a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between all involved parties would mark a historic step, establishing a formal commitment to advocate for equitable access to climate finance for all island communities. This should be the next step in this endeavor. Let us work together toward this formal agreement and commit to supporting islands worldwide. To be more specific ladies and gentlemen, I would suggest to use the COP 30 in Brazil next year as our aim to sign this historic MOU.

Finally, I want to extend my gratitude to our hosts and to each one of you for being part of this crucial conversation. With persistence, partnership, and purpose, we can transform today’s ideas into lasting solutions for our islands and beyond.

Toespraak Albert Martis

Earlier this year, at the SIDS4 Conference in Antigua and Barbuda, we underscored the unique vulnerabilities that Subnational Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs) face in combating climate change. Despite our ties to larger powers, our political status often restricts our access to international climate funding, leaving us excluded from mechanisms designed for fully sovereign nations or regional municipalities.

As we know, rising sea levels threaten to inundate our coastal communities, erode our shores, and displace countless families. Extreme weather events—such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts—devastate our infrastructure, disrupt our economies, and cause a profound loss of life and livelihoods. Biodiversity loss undermines our ecosystems, which are essential not only for environmental health but also for economic sectors like tourism and fisheries. And as these events increase in frequency and intensity, our limited financial and technical resources are stretched thin, making it ever more difficult to recover. The consequences of climate change for island nations are severe, and in particular for SNIJs, multi-dimensional.

We are at a crossroads, facing existential threats to our economies, our communities, and our very way of life. Yet, as we acknowledged at SIDS4, the answer lies in collab

oration. By joining forces as a global coalition, we can advocate more effectively for dedicated funding mechanisms tailored to the needs of SNIJs. Our strength lies in our collective resolve, in our ability to share resources, knowledge, and strategies, creating a platform that not only highlights our shared challenges but also showcases our innovations and resilience.

Today, we demonstrate our unwavering commitment to solutions. We are here to advance a coalition that champions participation and dedicated funding for SNIJs, securing the resources necessary for resilient futures. We seek partnerships with metropolitan states, international financial institutions, and stakeholders across the board to gain the financial autonomy required to safeguard our people and our economies.

In conclusion, today, we gather to address a critical and often overlooked issue impacting many SNIJs, including Curaçao and others. Let us reaffirm that our resolve is strong, our voice unified, and our goal clear: a sustainable, resilient future for all islands. We are not passive victims; we are solution seekers, innovators, and collaborators. Together, we will build a future where SNIJs flourish, proving that with collective commitment and action, resilience and prosperity are within our reach.