Antigua and Barbuda Delegation Participates in 4th Meeting of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage in the Philippines

Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation, comprising Mr. Peter Abraham Jr., Board Member, and Ambassador Ruleta Camacho Thomas, Primary Advisor, is attending the 4th Meeting of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) in the Philippines from December 2-5, 2024.

This significant gathering focuses on advancing the operationalization of the FRLD Board, a crucial step in addressing the escalating impacts of climate change that result in loss and damage. Notably, this is the first Board meeting hosted by the Philippines, the newly selected host country for the FRLD Board. It also marks the inaugural participation of the Fund’s first Executive Director, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, who began his four-year term on November 1, 2024.

During COP29 in Baku, Ambassador Camacho Thomas and other high-level representatives from CARICOM nations engaged in preliminary dialogues with Executive Director Diong. These discussions facilitated early communication of specific needs and priorities of countries, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to ensure the Fund effectively addresses their unique vulnerabilities and challenges.

Antigua and Barbuda’s participation is especially significant, as the nation holds the Board seat designated for the SIDS constituency. This highlights the crucial role of SIDS in shaping global climate finance mechanisms to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on small island nations.

The primary outcome anticipated from this meeting is substantial progress toward elaborating the operationalizational plan of the FRLD. The FRLD is a vital component in bridging gaps in global climate finance to address loss and damage. The FRLD is intended to play an essential role in supporting countries most affected by climate-induced disasters, ensuring that resources are mobilized swiftly to tackle the escalating challenges posed by the Climate Crisis