Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda is continuing discussions with international climate financing agencies, including the Loss and Damage Fund, as the country pushes for greater support to help vulnerable island states respond to climate change and natural disasters.
Speaking on Pointe FM following recent international engagements in New York, Browne said he had already held discussions with officials connected to the Loss and Damage Fund and expressed confidence that Antigua and Barbuda could secure additional financing for climate resilience and housing renewal projects.
The prime minister argued that countries like Antigua and Barbuda, which contribute minimally to global emissions, continue to bear a disproportionate burden from increasingly destructive storms and climate-related disasters.
“We have contributed little to this crisis,” Browne said while discussing the international climate system and financing inequities facing Small Island Developing States.
He said wealthy industrialized nations responsible for high fossil fuel emissions should provide stronger financial support for recovery and adaptation efforts in vulnerable countries.
“Those who pollute must pay,” Browne said, calling for the Loss and Damage Fund to be properly capitalized to ensure Caribbean countries can access grant financing after hurricanes rather than being forced into deeper debt through borrowing.
Browne said Antigua and Barbuda continues to advocate internationally for reforms to the global financial system, including wider use of vulnerability measures rather than income classifications when determining eligibility for concessional financing.
He referenced his role in advancing the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, arguing that traditional economic measurements fail to account for the severe exposure of small island states to hurricanes and climate shocks.
The prime minister also linked climate financing to the government’s wider housing and infrastructure agenda, saying Antigua and Barbuda is pursuing funding through mechanisms including the Global Environment Facility and the Loss and Damage Fund to support resilient housing development and environmental upgrades.
Browne further argued that Antigua and Barbuda must continue investing in resilient infrastructure, renewable energy and environmental management to protect the economy and tourism sector from climate-related threats.
His recent international meetings in New York focused heavily on climate resilience, renewable energy financing, sustainable development and support for Small Island Developing States ahead of Antigua and Barbuda’s hosting of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.