In her first address as a TIME100 Climate Leader, Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons emphasized the urgent need for global climate action and sustainable forest management. Speaking at the TIME100 Climate Leaders Dinner in Rio de Janeiro, she acknowledged the honor but stressed that the focus should remain on raising awareness and addressing the pressing challenges of climate change. President Simons is currently in Brazil for the Bélem Climate Summit, a precursor to the 30th United Nations Climate Conference (COP30), which Brazil will host. Despite Suriname’s vast rainforests covering over 90% of its territory, the nation remains highly vulnerable to climate change. Coastal areas, home to 75% of the population, including the capital Paramaribo, are already experiencing rising sea levels, while indigenous and tribal communities in the interior face increasing threats. President Simons highlighted the need for significant financial resources to protect these communities and build resilience. She also called for equitable climate financing, noting that while a handful of countries, including Suriname, are carbon-negative, they bear the brunt of global climate impacts. ‘Suriname’s forests and those worldwide provide essential ecosystem services—clean air, water, biodiversity, and climate regulation—that sustain humanity,’ she stated. President Simons urged the international community to provide fair and timely funding to countries actively contributing to global ecosystem preservation. She reaffirmed Suriname’s commitment to its role in climate action and will further elaborate on the nation’s carbon-negative status during the Bélem Climate Summit, where global leaders will discuss climate strategies and financing.
President vraagt klimaatactie: Eerlijke financiering nodig om bossen te beschermen
