Garth Simon, a representative of Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Environment, recently participated in an international event titled “Improving Climate Resilient Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Lessons Learned from the Adaptation Fund Portfolio and New Financing Windows,” held during the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event brought together leaders and experts from across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to share key insights and experiences from the Adaptation Fund’s portfolio, as well as introduce new financing windows under the Adaptation Fund’s Medium Term Strategy (MTS2) for 2023-2027.

 

COP29, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), serves as a platform for global leaders, policymakers, and advocates to collaborate on urgent climate issues, share best practices, and establish new strategies for adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development.

 

During the event, Simon showcased Antigua and Barbuda’s innovative climate adaptation efforts, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, local partnerships, and integrating both physical and financial resilience measures. His presentation highlighted the country’s “Integrated Approach to Physical Adaptation and Community Resilience in the Northwest McKinnons Watershed,” also known as the McKinnons Project. This project, funded by the Adaptation Fund, is designed to enhance the climate resilience of the McKinnons community by upgrading urban drainage systems and improving the McKinnons Waterway to reduce flood risks and increase water management capabilities.