“Antigua and Barbuda Will Continue to Punch Above Its Weight,” Says PM Browne Ahead of COP30

Prime Minister Gaston A. Browne has reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s unwavering commitment to global climate action as he departs for Belém, Brazil, to lead the nation’s delegation to the Thirtieth Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“Antigua and Barbuda will continue to punch above its weight in global climate diplomacy,” Prime Minister Browne declared at V. C. Bird International Airport before departure on Tuesday. “Our participation at COP30 is about defending our right to exist and securing financing for resilience and adaptation for all small island nations.”

The two-day summit, taking place from November 6–7, will bring together world leaders, policymakers, and environmental experts to accelerate progress on climate adaptation, financing, and the protection of ecosystems.

The Prime Minister will be joined by a high-level delegation, including: E. P. Chet Greene, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Sir Molwyn Joseph, Minister for Health, Wellness & the Environment.

The team also includes senior officials from the Ministries of Environment and Foreign Affairs, the Department of Sustainable Development, and technical experts in climate finance, energy transition, and ocean governance.

Prime Minister Browne is scheduled to participate in the Opening Plenary of Leaders and deliver Antigua and Barbuda’s national statement on Friday, November 7. He will also join two key thematic sessions chaired by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — “Climate and Nature: Forests and Oceans” on November 6, and “10 Years of the Paris Agreement: NDCs and Financing” on November 7.

A major highlight of COP30 will be the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) — a blended-finance mechanism designed to make tropical forests “worth more standing than destroyed.” Antigua and Barbuda is expected to endorse the TFFF Launch Declaration and advocate for equitable access by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to the facility’s resources.

While in Brazil, Prime Minister Browne will also attend the Leaders’ Luncheon marking the TFFF launch, hold bilateral meetings with Caribbean and international partners, and participate in discussions on climate financing, blue economy development, and renewable energy transition.

The delegation’s engagement at COP30 builds on Antigua and Barbuda’s growing leadership in global climate and development diplomacy, following its successful hosting of the UN SIDS4 Conference in 2024 and ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in St. John’s in 2026.