Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda is spearheading the nation’s delegation at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, underscoring the country’s unwavering dedication to global climate initiatives. Before departing from V. C. Bird International Airport on Tuesday, Browne emphasized the critical role of small island nations in climate diplomacy, stating, ‘Antigua and Barbuda will continue to punch above its weight in global climate diplomacy. Our participation at COP30 is about defending our right to exist and securing financing for resilience and adaptation for all small island nations.’
The two-day summit, scheduled for November 6–7, will convene world leaders and experts to address pressing issues such as climate adaptation, financing, and ecosystem protection. Browne is set to deliver the national statement on Friday and participate in two thematic sessions chaired by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva: ‘Climate and Nature: Forests and Oceans’ and ’10 Years of the Paris Agreement: NDCs and Financing.’
Accompanying Browne are Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene, Health and Environment Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph, and senior officials from key ministries and agencies. A significant focus of COP30 will be the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, a blended-finance initiative designed to preserve tropical forests by making them more valuable intact than destroyed. Antigua and Barbuda is expected to endorse the facility’s launch declaration and advocate for equitable access for small island states.
In addition to the summit’s formal agenda, Browne will attend the Leaders’ Luncheon, engage in bilateral meetings with regional and global partners, and discuss critical topics such as climate financing, blue economy growth, and renewable energy transition. This participation reaffirms Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership in global climate efforts, building on the momentum from the 2024 UN SIDS4 Conference and ahead of hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2026.