Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, has called for stronger partnerships, reliable climate financing, and practical action to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during a high-level panel discussion at Deutsche Bank’s Beneath the Surface: Ocean Summit 2026.

High Commissioner Hill participated in the panel discussion titled “Ocean and Climate: From Pledges to Action” on June 23, joining international leaders and climate experts to discuss advancing ocean protection and climate resilience.

The session was moderated by Suresh Yadav, Senior Director of the Climate Change and Oceans Directorate at the Commonwealth Secretariat, and featured distinguished panellists including His Excellency Mukhtar Babayev, Special Representative of the President on Climate Issues of the Republic of Azerbaijan; His Excellency Jovilisi Suveinakama, High Commissioner of Fiji to the United Kingdom; and Faith Turan, Director General of Environmental Management in the Republic of Türkiye.

During the discussion, High Commissioner Hill highlighted the important role the Commonwealth continues to play in supporting Small Island Developing States. She pointed to initiatives such as the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, the Climate Finance Access Hub, and the Commonwealth’s work in assisting Antigua and Barbuda with boundary delimitation and ocean boundary matters.

She also stressed the need to move beyond commitments and declarations by delivering tangible support to vulnerable nations through predictable climate financing mechanisms and credible investment platforms that promote ocean conservation, resilience, and sustainable development.

The participation of Antigua and Barbuda at the summit underscores the country’s continued advocacy for the interests of Small Island Developing States and its commitment to advancing global action on climate and ocean sustainability.