Building on a strong campaign that has seen multiple Caribbean nations become a part of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature & People’s goal to protect 30% of global biodiversity by 2030, two regional political leaders have weighed in on the 30×30 target. The Honorable Matthew Samuda, Minister with responsibility for Environment, Water and Climate Change, Government of Jamaica, and the Honorable Simon Stiell, Ministry of Climate Resiliency, Government of Grenada, joined Caribbean Biodiversity Fund CEO Karen McDonald Gayle in a livestream discussing the importance of the HAC’s work globally, and what it means to the Caribbean.
Highlighting the region’s leadership in terms of sustainable development and resilience, both ministers discussed the Caribbean’s own goal of protecting 20% of its land and oceans by 2020. This target was carried out independently by regional governments, and without any support or planning with other global nations. The HAC’s 30×30 goal however, is being undertaken by over 85 countries from around the world, including Angola, France, the Marshall Islands, and Canada.
Working together towards the common goal of protecting 30% of the world’s land and oceans ensures an increased chance of success, as Minister Stiell outlined, “What is very clear with the 30×30 initiative is that it increases the level of ambition at a global level and those of us who can make a greater contribution to that target should do so,” he continues, “What I think is remarkable about the 30×30 initiative – it does build on efforts that were made within the region as far back as 2013 with the Caribbean Challenge Initiative with the goal of protecting 20% of our near-shore environment by 2020 and of the eleven countries, many met that target.”
This means that Caribbean countries are in a unique position to set ambitious goals and meet them, while benefiting from the interconnectedness their economies have with their ecosystems. Minister Samuda points out, “The product we have sold to the world as a region is ‘sun, sand and sea’ – in essence there can be no divorcing the economic prospects of the region from the environmental prospects of the region,” therefore, as he explains, it is important for Caribbean nations to work together. “There are many challenges that we face, and the 30×30 allows us to discuss how to approach them together, how we can get buy-in from all parties and reach the 30% goal by 2030.”
The full livestream is available below, and if you are interested in learning more about the 30×30 target and what opportunities it could provide to the region, sign up for updates on the Caribbean campaign’s website, or watch the first livestream featuring the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator’s CEO Racquel Moses, and Director General of the Organisation for Eastern Caribbean States Dr Didacus Jules.