Ministers responsible for environment and sustainable development from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have underscored the need for integrated strategies to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, as they convened in Georgetown, Guyana for a key regional meeting on Thursday.
The call came during the opening of the 124th Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Environment and Sustainable Development, where Chair of the meeting, Orlando Habet, stressed that environmental challenges must no longer be addressed in isolation.
Habet, who serves as Belize’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, pointed out that major international funding mechanisms, including the Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, are increasingly structured to support programmes that deliver multiple environmental benefits at once.
“Our citizens do not experience climate, biodiversity and pollution as separate agendas; they feel them together,” Habet said, linking these interconnected challenges to everyday concerns such as food security, water access, public health, and livelihoods.
Discussions at the meeting reflect this integrated vision, covering climate negotiations, biodiversity targets, ocean governance, and the management of chemicals and waste. Ministers highlighted how decisions in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and transport directly impact ecosystems, including reefs and fisheries.
Habet also emphasised the need for closer collaboration between environment ministries and finance and planning authorities to develop investment-ready programmes capable of attracting international funding. He noted that stronger governance, transparency, and alignment with national development priorities are critical to unlocking much-needed financing.
At the same time, he called for greater national ownership of environmental projects, warning that externally driven initiatives often fail to align with local priorities or institutional realities. Instead, he urged CARICOM countries to ensure that development strategies remain active, guiding frameworks for implementation.
Regional cooperation was another key theme, with ministers encouraged to coordinate positions in global negotiations and pursue joint programmes to improve access to funding and amplify the Caribbean’s voice on the international stage.
Habet also pointed to growing collaboration between Belize and Guyana as an example of how intra-regional partnerships can strengthen broader CARICOM efforts.
The meeting comes as the Caribbean continues to face intensifying climate impacts, environmental degradation, and economic pressures, alongside evolving global dynamics. Ministers are expected to engage with development partners and refine regional strategies aimed at building a more resilient and sustainable future.
Over the two-day session, participants will focus on advancing coordinated action, strengthening institutional frameworks, and unlocking financing to support integrated environmental solutions across the region.