Green Economies (Caribbean)

Oral Answers to Questions — International Development – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 26 October 2011.

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Photo of Daniel Poulter Daniel Poulter Conservative, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich 11:30, 26 October 2011

What steps his Department is taking to assist countries in the Caribbean to develop greener economies.

Photo of Alan Duncan Alan Duncan The Minister of State, Department for International Development

We are supporting the Caribbean to develop greener economies both bilaterally and through multilaterals. That support includes the development of renewable energy, such as bioethanol from banana waste in Saint Lucia, developing and implementing a low-carbon growth strategy in Guyana, and helping Anguilla implement a 10-year plan for achieving carbon neutrality.

Photo of Daniel Poulter Daniel Poulter Conservative, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich

The Minister will be aware that at the Copenhagen summit there was discussion about funds being made available to islands such as those in the Caribbean, which are particularly susceptible to climate change, in order to combat the challenges that they face. Will he update the House on discussions his Department has had with those in the Caribbean, and other small islands, on supporting them in that respect?

Photo of Alan Duncan Alan Duncan The Minister of State, Department for International Development

Negotiations on designing the green climate fund instrument are not due to be concluded until the UN framework convention on climate change conference in Durban this December. The proposal that will be submitted to the conference would make resources for adaptation and mitigation available for all developing countries, including those in the Caribbean, and hence should also include other small island developing states.

Photo of Rushanara Ali Rushanara Ali Shadow Minister (International Development)

As well as prioritising the need for developing greener economies in the Caribbean and other islands ahead of the Durban conference, what are the Government doing—I want to reiterate this point—to provide international leadership to ensure that the commitment made in Copenhagen to raise $100 billion per year by 2020 is met by the international community, so that, as has been said, the most vulnerable countries get the support that they need for adaptation and mitigation?

Photo of Alan Duncan Alan Duncan The Minister of State, Department for International Development

I can assure the House, and the hon. Lady, that climate change is one of the three pillars of our development policy in the Caribbean. The UK is working bilaterally in the overseas territories, as well as regionally across the Caribbean with institutions such as the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre and the Caribbean Development Bank, as well as other donors, to promote green economies in the Caribbean and address the broader challenges of climate change.

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