New York, NY (TDN) -- Caribbean ministers and diplomats at the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly called attention to the growing threat of climate change and urged Member States to pay attention to its devastating effects on the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Dominica’s UN ambassador Vince Henderson noted that “the unsustainable consumption and production systems that continue to deplete the world's resources and simultaneously contribute to global warming, remains a major threat to the survival of those of us who live close to the world's oceans,” he said. “The very vulnerability of Dominica to the effects of global warming underscores our commitment to a multilateral approach aimed at combating climate change.”
His remarks were similarly echoed by Grenada’s ambassador Dessima Williams who stressed the risks that Caribbean islands faced from climate-related events. She also urged Member States to support the UN’s impending Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar, to help finalize a new binding climate treaty by 2015.”
Maxine McClean the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados called for greater collaboration to achieve common UN-sponsored climate agreement. “Inaction or inadequate action is inexcusable and morally indefensible, given the level of certainty of the scientific evidence before us, and the technological and financial tools at our disposal to affect the necessary change,” she said.
Suriname’s foreign minister Winston G. Lackin also added his voice to the chorus of calls noting that “the international community cannot abandon its obligation to provide the necessary means to combat serious consequences of over-consumption, pollution, and carbon emissions, which threaten to undo our own achievements in protecting the environment and securing the well-being of our peoples,” he said.
Representatives from Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago also used the opportunity while addressing the UN General Assembly to urged greater collaboration and to stress the need for action to mitigate the impact of climate change particularly on small developing countries.
