IICA backs CARICOM efforts to turn the Caribbean into the first region resilient to climate change
San José, Costa Rica. 1 March 2018 (IICA). In line with the objectives expressed by leaders of the CARICOM countries during their recent summit meeting in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero, emphasized that the Institute pursues objectives similar to those outlined by the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise. He underscored the fact that, as an organization entrusted with promoting agricultural development in the Americas, IICA’s work focuses on creating a more productive, inclusive and resilient agriculture.
IICA, along with the President of Haiti, recognizes the region’s vulnerability to the severe effects of climate change, reflected in droughts, major hurricanes and floods, which are the most visible and increasingly intense phenomena experienced in the Caribbean and Central America.
In this regard, it is timely to recall that strengthening cooperation in areas vulnerable to natural disasters was one of the concrete results achieved during the recent visit by the Director General of IICA to Ottawa, Canada, where agreements were reached with prestigious and active organizations such as the International Development Research Center (IDRC) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to increase urgent and committed actions to tackle the most destructive effects of climate change on family agriculture.
These same objectives were discussed this week in Washington by Otero and the Deputy Director General of IICA, Lloyd Day, both at meetings with private sector representatives and with high-ranking officials of the United States government and multilateral credit organizations.
In response to the concerns expressed by Haiti’s Head of State and pro tempore Chair of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, IICA will continue its efforts to strengthen South-South cooperation by promoting increased exchanges of knowledge and experiences and intraregional trade to mitigate the region’s vulnerability to the devastating effects of natural disasters.
IICA also acknowledges the efforts of the Member States of CARICOM and congratulates them for the agreement signed in Port-au-Prince, aimed at supporting the reconstruction of the countries affected by hurricanes Irma, Maria and Matthew, in the context of their public policies to promote institutional strengthening, actions to mitigate natural disasters and resilience to climate change.
More informattion:
José Alfredo Alpízar. Press and outreach coordinator.