Prime Minister Gaston Browne met with members of Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) this week, as global discussions in Belém, Brazil, shift toward action and accountability on climate commitments.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the conference, focused on the country’s priorities and negotiating strategies as leaders from around the world push for stronger implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Prime Minister Browne was briefed on key areas of engagement for Antigua and Barbuda, including ocean and forest protection, access to climate finance, and global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, a critical threshold for small island nations facing rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

The delegation, led by Ambassador Ruleta Camacho-Thomas, includes Ambassador Diann Black-Layne, Director of the Department of Environment and Head of the SIDS Negotiating Team; Zachary Phillips, Crown Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers; Arry Simon, Climate Assessment and Information Officer; Gita Gardner, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and Green Climate Fund (GCF) Operational Focal Point; and J’noure Smith-Kellman, Public Relations Officer.

Prime Minister Browne praised the team for their ongoing advocacy on behalf of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), emphasizing the importance of unity and persistence in securing fair climate financing and ensuring that the voices of vulnerable nations remain central to the global agenda.

COP30, hosted by Brazil, has been dubbed an “Implementation COP,” underscoring the need for tangible progress on promises made in past summits. This year’s focus on protecting and sustainably managing forests aligns closely with the interests of SIDS, whose ecosystems and economies are deeply intertwined with the health of the planet’s natural resources.

As the Antigua and Barbuda delegation posed for a group photo beside an image of Brazil’s native anteater, the moment offered a quiet reflection on global interconnectedness. Though worlds apart, both the Caribbean nation and the South American host share a common stake in protecting the planet’s fragile ecosystems.