13 Caribbean Heads of State and Government have called for an effective global agreement at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December. The leaders made the call in a statement titled ‘Declaration of Fort-de-France’ on 9 May at a meeting in Martinique, chaired by French President François Hollande.
In the statement, the leaders say their populations are already feeling the effects of climate change, which they say could lead to “more frequent extreme events, more intense and changing rainfall patterns, more ocean acidification and ocean warming, coral bleaching, rising sea levels, coastal erosion, salinization of aquifers, the greatly accelerated emergence of new communicable diseases, reduced agricultural productivity, and a disruption of fishing traditions.”
Along with pointing out that they are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and in urgent need of finance to adapt, the Carribean Heads of State and Government also say they are determined to lead by example in curbing emissions in their countries:
"Although the Caribbean countries are only responsible for a fraction of global emissions of greenhouse gases, our Governments are determined to contribute fully to international action to limit future emissions to a level that will ensure the survival of most vulnerable communities, along with food security and the socio- economic well-being of all, respecting the need to maintain the balances of our biosphere."