Prime Minister Browne makes the case for island states during meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

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As Chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), the Prime Minister, Hon. Gaston Browne took part in an open exchange with new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier today.

The meeting is just one of many bilateral and multilateral engagements that will capture the attention of the entire Prime Minister of the country during his visit to New York for the 77^e United Nations General Assembly.

Premier Browne was accompanied by the Minister of Education, the Hon. Daryl Matthew. Also present were the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi and the Prime Minister of Tuvalu Kausea Natano.

Prime Minister Browne took the opportunity to plead the cause of small island states that remain under constant threat from extreme weather conditions.

A major priority for Antigua and Barbuda as Chair of AOSIS at COP27 is the establishment of a funding mechanism to finance loss and damage.

“COP27 must show the political will to address the climate crisis as the crisis it is, and the responses we have seen for the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the energy security crises,” the Prime Minister said. Minister Browne.

In this context, Prime Minister Browne urged the inclusion of loss and damage as an agenda item for COP 27 and ultimately the establishment of such a funding by the end of the meeting, which will take place in Egypt later this year.

He also blamed Germany for reactivating coal-fired power plants even as the target of staying below 1.5 remains under threat due to the reluctance of industrialized countries to significantly move away from their dependence on coal. fossil fuels.

Prime Minister Browne also presented several solutions under Germany’s consideration to address the needs of Small Island States (SIDS), one of which is the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) where Prime Minister Browne is Co-Chair. of the United Nations Expert Group on MVI.

Once endorsed by UN member states, the MVI will take into account the unique vulnerabilities of island states as they seek to build resilience to climate change and other global shocks. The MVI will enable middle- and high-income SIDS to access concessional finance and other development assistance, regardless of their income level.

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