Grenada PM highlights island’s climate disasters at COP29

Prime Minister of Grenada and Head of CARICOM Dickon Mitchell was among world leaders who delivered statements at the COP20 United Nations Climate Change summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

Mitchell noted that as he spoke, his island was being devastated by flash flooding, landslides and a deluge of excessive rainfall all in the space of a couple hours.  

“This is the reality of small island developing states,” said Mitchell.  

The Grenada Prime Minister told COP29 that he leads a country which in the first half of this year experienced a 15-month drought, and then in the second half of the year, experienced the earliest Category 5 hurricane that devastated Grenada’s islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.  

On July 1, Carriacou and Petite Martinique were devastated by Hurricane Beryl which either damaged or destroyed more than 95 per cent of buildings.  

“We are not here to beg or to ask for sympathy but to say it is one planet. It may be small island developing states today, but it could be Spain tomorrow or Florida the day after.” 

Mitchell told COP29 the partnership being asked for is to finance climate resilience and adaptation that works in the best interest of the planet and mankind.  

He said whether it is innovative financing tools like the CCRIF parametric risk insurance or an operationalised Loss and Damage Fund that actually puts the money in the fund and make it available for those who suffer loss and damage, it should be a partnership for mutual benefit.