Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will accelerate climate action with new $3 million GCF project

The Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC), in collaboration with the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (GoSVG), has launched a US$3 million project to accelerate action on climate change.

The launch took place on 26 November 2024 in the presence of key national stakeholders from sectors such as agriculture, tourism, fisheries, forestry, economic development, environment, meteorological services and others.

The event featured a speech from Mr. Earl Green, CCCCC Project Manager, who highlighted the importance of the project in strengthening SVG’s capacity to implement actions that improve climate adaptation.

Mr Green further acknowledged that despite the many ongoing activities and constant pressure from recurring climate events, the success
The implementation of the project depends critically on active national participation. “This is expected to enable SVG to implement its Long Term Preparedness Action Plan to enhance its national capacity to effectively respond to and address the impacts of climate change in a strategic, consultative, collaborative and integrated manner with national stakeholders to ensure country ownership and participation,” – he formulated.

The project is financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and is designed for a three-year period from 2024 to 2027.

Ms Giselle Myers, Senior Economist at the Ministry of Economic Development, explained that SVG has received financial support from the GCF through the CCCCC since 2017.

The new project increases the total economic value of GCF’s climate change-related contributions to US$8 million. “The Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) support for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) continues to build resilience to climate change.

The full commitment of NDA and key stakeholders plays a critical role in implementing activities as well as strengthening policies for effective implementation of the program and/or projects,” she said.

Reflecting on the numerous natural disasters that have struck St. Vincent and the Grenadines over the past decade, Myers lamented the unrelenting and pervasive nature of climate impacts that affect every industry. These developments, she said, “clearly demonstrate the urgent need for St. Vincent and the Grenadines to mobilize climate finance that will support projects that will enable the country to strengthen adaptation and mitigation efforts, and reduce potential disruption.”

She called on stakeholders to play their part in the implementation of this preparedness project, the sixth of its kind.

Thanking Mr. Aniwar Peralta, CCCCC Project Development Officer, she said, “We are pleased to once again collaborate with CCCCC as an implementation partner.”

CCCCC, together with the Economic Planning Division of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology, will implement the project on behalf of the people and government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Upon completion of the project, it is expected that the institutional, technical and climate financing needs of the Member State will be strengthened, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future. (CCCCCC)