A cheque presentation made by the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Government of Saint Lucia, will aid the region’s efforts to combat climate change.

As part of the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) were asked to submit their intentions in regards to the fight against climate change. Since then many SIDS have found it difficult to resource financial backing to help implement the processes needed in achieving the respective targets.

Due to this the Government of Saint Lucia, the Organization of Caribbean States, and the United Nations Framework on Climate Change under the auspices of the NDC partnership began work in 2017 on the NDC Finance Initiative to help mobilize efforts in aiding NDCs. The first step in the process being the inaugural NDC Investment Forum.

On presenting the cheque to the Department of Sustainable Development, the Ambassador of China Taiwan, His Excellency Douglas Shen remarked that the monies contributed will go toward a worthwhile cause.

“Today, it is my pleasure and honour to make a donation on behalf of Taiwan to the first regional NDC Investment Forum. As a responsible partner in its development, Taiwan is able and willing to contribute to the global effort against climate change. Like Saint Lucia, Taiwan is an island state and prone to the impacts of climate change, as the record breaking rainfall over the past few weeks has shown. Taiwan has a lot of experience, technology and the best practices in reducing greenhouse gases. I would like to say that in fighting climate change, Taiwan can help.”

In accepting the cheque on behalf of the Department, the Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Hon. Dr, Gayle Rigobert said: “The NDC Investment Forum is critical to our endeavors in this part of the world as we recognize the difficulty that we as small island states have in mobilizing the requisite financial resources to fight climate change. Your donation, Your Excellency, will go a long way in ensuring the success of that forum. We really do need the resources to undertake the work programme and to implement our NDC’s as suggested.”

The cheque presented was in the amount of EC$30,000. Saint Lucia hosted the first ever Nationally Determined Contribution Forum from Oct. 11 – 12.