Mr. Thomas made a special case for Grenada while meeting with Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg on the margins of the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Prime Minister elaborated on the vulnerabilities of small island states, citing recent catastrophes which affected Caribbean nations including Grenada and Haiti.
“Small economies like ours are severely affected by various factors including extreme weather patterns, and the international community must be prepared to play a role in assisting,” said Prime Minister Thomas.
Prime Minister Thomas shares the view that the social, economic and natural systems of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable in the world and therefore, the particular vulnerabilities warrant special treatment.
The two leaders reaffirmed their support for the climate agenda and pledged to continue working with all stakeholders.
Mr. Stoltenberg and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi are the co-chairs of the UN High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing in developing countries.
Appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the group shall mobilise the resources promised at the Copenhagen Climate Summit last December.
According to the Copenhagen Agreement reached at the end of the December summit, developed countries will raise up to US$30 billion for the period 2010-2012 and a total of $100 billion annually from 2020.
The agreement also stated that countries will work to limit the temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius, and implement efforts to reduce or limit the emission of greenhouse gases.
The new UN climate group will draw up practical proposals for the financing of emission cuts and adaptation strategies.
In addition to Stoltenberg and Zenawi, the group includes Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo and ministers and economists from a number of countries.
The UN climate group will present its final report before the next UN climate summit, in Mexico in December.
Photo: Prime Minister Tillman Thomas speaks with Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg during a bilateral meeting in New York (CREDIT: Michael Bascombe)
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