King Charles III delivers virtual remarks at SIDS4

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King Charles III has commended Antigua and Barbuda and other small island developing states for their leadership in tackling climate change and protecting biodiversity.

He said the examples shown by Small Island inspire the rest of the world to greater ambition, “and your voices galvanize more urgent action”

In his virtual message to those who attended the official opening of the SIDS4 conference happening in Antigua this week, King Charles said in addition to the incredible leadership of the nations, he is also increasingly encouraged by the important work being done across the international community in support of SIDS and the Commonwealth.

“You have helped to mobilize $310 million of climate finance for our small island members since 2016,” he said

The Markets Initiative, which the royal family founded in 2020, is working to support green economic growth.

Its corporate members have committed over $9 trillion globally for climate and nature investments in carbon mitigation and nature conservation and restoration.

“Its members are also exploring and developing innovative ways that insurance can help not only to support disaster recovery, but also to strengthen opportunities for investing in resilience and sustainability in vulnerable countries,” according to King Charles

He said there are clear benefits to everyone collaborating on projects to create the scale that companies need to invest in these solutions.

“And the Bridgetown Initiative has been a clarion call for change across the international financial system. However, ladies and gentlemen, I hardly need to tell you of all people that there is much further to go and that we can together and in close cooperation, build new partnerships to attract the kind of investment that could deliver sustainable, resilient prosperity for people everywhere”, he added

King Charles said as leaders, “you can build the ambition for practical, on the ground actions and safeguard the future of our precious and singular planet. I would like to congratulate the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, together with the United Nations, for their organization of this conference and the Alliance of Small Island States for its leadership support,” he added