Twenty-six countries and more than 40 private partners aim to make the Caribbean the world’s first eco-responsible region. This initiative builds on the agreements reached at the Climate Summit held in Paris on December 12 of last year. Through this partnership, they have committed to implementing rapid, concrete actions. The top priorities include building infrastructure capable of withstanding various natural disasters and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as protecting our marine ecosystems as part of a blue economy.
This partnership was launched in Jamaica, in the presence of Prime Minister Andrew Holness. The Inter-American Development Bank has committed to this initiative. Founded in 1959 in the United States, the bank finances projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. In this case, nearly 876,000 euros have been earmarked annually over a three-year period. This funding will be supplemented by an annual contribution from the World Bank.
These funds will be used to award grants each year to innovative projects in the field of environmental protection. Several celebrities are also on board, including Jamaican track and field champion Usain Bolt and musician Sean Paul. Sir Richard Branson, the head of the Virgin Group, also supports this project.
Here are the 26 signatory countries: Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, U.S. Virgin Islands, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Belize, Barbados, Bahamas, Guyana, Suriname, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Panama, Haiti, Mexico, Honduras.
Source: https://www.rci.fm/infos/risques-naturels/faire-de-la-caraibe-la-premiere-zone-eco-responsable
