Arry Simon to Champion Caribbean Climate Science Priorities at COP31 in Türkiye

Antigua and Barbuda’s climate negotiator Arry Simon is helping to shape the scientific priorities of small island developing states ahead of COP31 in Türkiye, where Caribbean nations are expected to intensify calls for stronger action against climate change.

Simon, who serves as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Lead Negotiator for Science, has been engaging fellow negotiators during preparatory meetings ahead of the United Nations climate conference, scheduled for November 9 to 20 in Antalya.

His discussions have focused on protecting the global temperature limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius, improving climate observation systems and ensuring that scientific evidence remains central to international climate decisions.

These priorities are particularly important for Antigua and Barbuda and other Caribbean countries, which continue to face threats from rising sea levels, extreme weather events and changing climate conditions.

During the AOSIS preparatory meetings, Simon briefed negotiators on the need to strengthen scientific monitoring and maintain international attention on the 1.5°C target, a key provision of the Paris Agreement.

The target seeks to limit global warming and reduce the risks associated with increasingly severe climate impacts, particularly for vulnerable island nations.

Another major priority for Antigua and Barbuda is the timely delivery of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report.

The country is advocating for the report's scientific findings to be available in time to inform the second Global Stocktake, which is expected to conclude in 2028.

The Global Stocktake is an international process used to assess collective progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and identify areas where stronger climate action is required.

Simon’s technical leadership will form part of Antigua and Barbuda’s wider participation in COP31, where Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs Michael Joseph will also assume significant negotiating responsibilities.

Joseph is expected to lead CARICOM’s climate science negotiations while sharing responsibility for climate finance discussions, two areas of particular importance to Caribbean countries seeking greater international support.

Together, their responsibilities place Antigua and Barbuda in a position to contribute to both the scientific and financial aspects of the negotiations.

For small island developing states, these discussions carry significant implications for protecting coastal communities, securing water supplies, strengthening food production and safeguarding tourism-dependent economies.

Access to adequate climate financing also remains a major concern, particularly as vulnerable countries seek resources to adapt to changing environmental conditions and recover from climate-related disasters.

As preparations continue for COP31, Simon’s work reflects Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to ensuring that the concerns of small island nations remain firmly represented in international climate discussions.