Caribbean leaders urge climate action at UN General Assembly

During the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, leaders from St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines addressed the international community regarding climate vulnerability and the importance of multilateralism.

Acting Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, warned that Small Island Developing States cannot adapt indefinitely to a deepening climate crisis. He emphasized that rising sea levels pose threats to national sovereignty, statehood, and maritime rights. Hanley noted that the federation has faced significant challenges, including severe drought, and called for concrete international action on climate financing and emissions.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Godwin Friday, reaffirmed his nation's commitment to the multilateral system despite criticisms that it is broken. Highlighting the impact of category 5 hurricanes and the economic strain caused by global conflicts on supply chains, Friday argued that the United Nations remains essential for peaceful dispute resolution and global cooperation.