Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne met with members of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation attending the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) currently taking place in Belém, Brazil. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the country’s priorities and strategy as the global conference enters a crucial phase focused on implementation and accountability.
During the discussions, the Prime Minister was briefed on the key areas of engagement for Antigua and Barbuda, including ocean and forest protection, climate finance, and efforts to keep the 1.5°C temperature goal within reach. The team also outlined their approach to advancing the interests of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through coordinated advocacy and technical negotiations across the different thematic sessions.
The Antigua and Barbuda delegation includes Ambassador Ruleta Camacho-Thomas, Ambassador for Climate Change; Ambassador Diann Black-Layne, Director of the Department of Environment and Head of the SIDS Negotiating Team; Zachary Phillips, Crown Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers; Arry Simon, Climate Assessment and Information Officer; Gita Gardner, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and Green Climate Fund (GCF) Operational Focal Point; and J’noure Smith-Kellman, Public Relations Officer.
Prime Minister Browne commended the delegation for its ongoing efforts to ensure that the voices of small island nations remain central to the global climate agenda.
COP30, hosted by Brazil, has been designated as an “Implementation COP,” emphasizing the need for tangible progress on commitments made under the Paris Agreement. This year’s conference places a strong focus on the protection and sustainable management of forests as a key pathway to achieving the 1.5°C global temperature goal—an issue of particular significance for SIDS, whose very survival depends on urgent and sustained global climate action.
As the Antigua and Barbuda delegation gathered for a photo before an image of Brazil’s native anteater, the moment offered a quiet symbolism. Two names that sound alike — Antigua and anteater — yet worlds apart, connected in this shared space by one unifying truth: every species, every nation, large or small, is bound by the same fragile thread of climate balance. It was a reminder that in protecting nature, we are ultimately protecting ourselves.
