Antigua and Barbuda continues to be a strong advocate for countries to take steps to mitigate against the effects of climate change that is having a negative impact of small island developing states.
Speaking at the VC Bird International Airport on Tuesday moments before he departed for the Thirtieth Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, being held in Belém, Brazil, November 6–7, 2025.
“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.”
Prime Minister Browne is leading the Antigua and Barbuda delegation to COP 30 that includes:
- Minister for Foreign Affairs, E. P. Chet Greene— Deputy Head of Delegation
- Minister for Health & the Environment, Sir Molwyn Joseph— Deputy Head of Delegation
The delegation also comprises senior officials from the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Sustainable Development, along with technical experts on climate finance, energy transition, and ocean governance.
Prime Minister Browne is scheduled to participate in the Opening Plenary of Leaders and to deliver Antigua and Barbuda’s national statement on the morning of Friday, November 7. He will also take part in two thematic sessions chaired by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil:
- “Climate and Nature: Forests and Oceans” on November 6, and;
- “10 Years of the Paris Agreement: NDCs and Financing” on November 7.
During COP30, world leaders will launch the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), a new blended-finance mechanism aimed at making tropical forests “worth more standing than destroyed”. Antigua and Barbuda has signaled its intent to endorse the TFFF Launch Declaration and to advocate for fair access by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to the Facility’s resources.
While in Belém, the Prime Minister will attend the Leaders’ Luncheon launching the TFFF, engage in bilateral meetings with Caribbean and international partners, and participate in discussions on climate financing, blue economy opportunities, and the energy transition.
The delegation’s work aligns with Antigua and Barbuda’s role as a leading voice for SIDS, following its hosting of the 2024 UN SIDS4 Conference and ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in St. John’s.
