Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, met with Mr. Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, on the sidelines of the COP30 Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil. The talks focused on accelerating support for vulnerable nations bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.

Mr. Diong congratulated Prime Minister Browne for his tireless advocacy and leadership in pushing for the creation of the Fund, which aims to provide financial relief to countries suffering from the devastating impacts of climate change. He also commended Antigua and Barbuda’s strong stance on climate justice, especially in representing the needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the global stage.

Providing an update on the Fund’s progress, Mr. Diong revealed that USD 800 million has already been pledged. The Fund, he explained, will operate through three main channels, multilateral development banks, direct access entities, and existing accredited bodies under the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund, to ensure that financing reaches affected countries quickly and efficiently.

The Fund is set to be officially launched on December 15, 2025, with full operations expected to begin within six months of that date.

Prime Minister Browne welcomed the update and reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s readiness to be among the first nations to apply for financing. He pointed to the country’s own experiences with hurricanes, coastal erosion, and other climate-induced disasters as proof of the urgent need for accessible loss and damage funding.

Browne also congratulated Mr. Diong and his team for their progress and pledged Antigua and Barbuda’s continued collaboration as a member of the Fund’s Board to ensure transparency and equitable access to resources.

During the discussion, the Prime Minister highlighted the upcoming launch of the Barbuda Implementation Mechanism (BIM), set for November 10 at COP30, describing it as a practical model for locally driven responses to climate loss and damage.

Both leaders reiterated their shared commitment to ensuring that the Fund becomes fully capitalized and effectively implemented, a crucial step toward helping the most climate-vulnerable communities recover and adapt.

As COP30 continues in Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda’s presence remains a powerful reminder of why the fight for climate justice matters most to those standing on the frontlines of the global crisis.