Embassy of The Bahamas, Brussels
Brussels, Belgium
12 November 2024
Press Release
As Chair of the OACPS SIDS Forum, Ambassador Bazard delivered keynote remarks at COP29 emphasized urgent climate finance and resilience-building initiatives for small island developing states, highlighting collaborative progress on vulnerability and resilience indices.
Ambassador Bazard, in her capacity as chair of the OACPS SIDS Forum delivered a keynote address at COP29 Azerbaijan, emphasizing the urgent need for accessible climate finance to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their fight against climate change and disaster risk reduction.
Speaking at the Side Event titled “Fostering Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Small Islands and Beyond,” the Chair underscored that concessional financing must be at the forefront of efforts to empower SIDS to adapt, manage risks, and build resilience while avoiding unsustainable debt levels.
Ambassador Bazard acknowledged the Government of Malta for its invaluable partnership with the OACPS. This collaboration, alongside the University of Malta’s Islands and Small States Institute, has driven progress on the OACPS Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), now adopted, and the OACPS Multidimensional Resilience Index (MRI). Most recently, the development of the Climate Vulnerability and Resilience Index was initiated, further bolstering efforts to address the unique challenges faced by SIDS.
Special recognition was given to ASG Cristelle Pratt and Ambassador Gilbêrt van Lierop for their contributions, and the Chair expressed enthusiasm about future collaboration with James Ellsmoor of Island Innovation. The event reaffirmed the collective resolve of the OACPS to secure a resilient and equitable future for its member states.
About The Embassy, Belgium: The Embassy of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the Kingdom of Belgium and Mission to the European Union serves to enhance both bilateral and multilateral relations with the European Union, the Organisation of African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Community of Latin and Caribbean Countries (CELAC) as well as other organisations and is an active participant in the Caribbean Group of Embassies in Brussels. We invite you to contact us and experience why it’s “better in The Bahamas”.
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