UAE minister calls for boosted funds to counteract climate change in the Caribbean

At a regional meeting in Barbados last Thursday, the leader of the upcoming U N global climate summit emphasized the pressing need for more funds to counteract climate change in the Caribbean

Sultan al-Jaber, the Minister of Industry for the United Arab Emirates, highlighted the prohibitive costs that have hindered Caribbean island nations from rapidly transitioning to renewable energy

These Caribbean nations, according to alJaber, are enduring some of the most severe climate-related challenges globally

He conveyed to the Caribbean community that their experience with climate change serves as an early alarm for the world at large

During an online event, al-Jaber addressed leaders of the 15-member trade bloc, Caricom, emphasizing the importance of bridging the climate finance gap, especially in anticipation of the COP28 summit set to occur in Dubai this December

Coinciding with his address, the U S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration revised its forecast for the Atlantic hurricane season

Citing record sea surface temperatures, the new prediction now leans towards an abovenormal season, with an estimated 14 to 21 named storms, including two to five major hurricanes

This season, which spans from June 1 to November 30, has already seen the formation of five tropical storms, marking an unusually active onset

Al-Jaber acknowledged the Caribbean’s