Antigua and Barbuda Champions Climate Justice and Regional Solidarity at COP30

Antigua and Barbuda has once again positioned itself at the forefront of global climate advocacy, calling for urgent international and regional cooperation to address climate-induced mobility across the Caribbean.

Speaking during the High-Level Session on Climate Mobility in the Greater Caribbean at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Ambassador for Climate Change, Her Excellency Ruleta Camacho Thomas, delivered a powerful keynote address urging global leaders to prioritize the protection of people, culture, and livelihoods threatened by the worsening climate crisis.

“Climate mobility is already a reality in our region,” she said, recalling how Caribbean residents displaced by hurricanes have sought refuge in neighboring islands. “Our people are not statistics — they are communities losing homes, history, and identity.”

Ambassador Camacho Thomas stressed that most residents of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) wish to remain in their homelands, underscoring the need for stronger investment in resilient housing, infrastructure, and adaptation programs that enable people to “stay and thrive” despite rising climate risks.

“For SIDS, climate mobility represents the human face of loss and damage,” she declared. “Justice without finance is delay by another name.”

Citing Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership in international climate law, she referenced landmark advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea — both affirming that states have a legal obligation to prevent environmental harm and that all peoples have the right to a healthy environment.
“Loss of land must never mean loss of nationhood or identity,” she affirmed.

Ambassador Camacho Thomas also called for a united Caribbean response to climate mobility, highlighting that no single island can tackle the challenge alone. She urged closer coordination on relocation planning, social protection, and financing frameworks.

Antigua and Barbuda continues to advocate for the inclusion of climate mobility in National Adaptation Plans, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and Loss and Damage frameworks, while promoting the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) to ensure equitable access to concessional finance.

The country remains committed to ensuring that global climate policy not only mitigates displacement but preserves the dignity, sovereignty, and culture of Caribbean people in the face of escalating climate threats.