At the 51st Regular Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Conference of Heads of Government held in Saint Lucia, regional leaders have thrown their full collective weight behind Guyana’s historic campaign to host the 35th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP35) in 2030. The unanimous endorsement marks a major milestone for the Caribbean, a region on the frontlines of climate change impacts despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Beyond backing Guyana’s hosting bid, heads of government also formally approved the CARICOM Climate Diplomacy and COP35 Framework (2026–2030), a cohesive strategic document designed to unify the bloc’s advocacy for member state interests in global climate talks. Official meeting communiqué details outline that the framework will not only align the bloc’s diplomatic engagement ahead of COP31 – scheduled for November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye – but also anchor long-term regional climate goals for the coming half-decade.
During deliberations, leaders reaffirmed two non-negotiable core priorities for the Caribbean in international climate negotiations: holding global warming to the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels, and securing formal international recognition of the unique vulnerabilities faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across the globe. Many Caribbean nations fall into this category, facing existential threats from sea-level rise, intensifying tropical storms, and coastal erosion that disrupt livelihoods and economies.
As part of the bloc’s coordinated climate action in the lead-up to 2030, CARICOM has called for high-level global participation in the Second Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit, set to be hosted by Guyana between October 26 and 28, 2026. The summit will build momentum for the region’s broader climate and conservation agenda ahead of COP35.
If Guyana’s bid succeeds, it will make history as the first CARICOM member state to ever host a United Nations Climate Change Conference. Hosting the high-stakes global gathering would bring unprecedented international attention to the Caribbean’s ongoing climate struggle, amplifying the region’s calls for increased climate finance from major global emitters and greater investment in climate resilience infrastructure for vulnerable SIDS.