London, June 24, 2020 - The Cuban Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Barbara Elena Montalvo Álvarez, participated this morning in the meeting organized by Canning House on COP 26 and the challenges for Latin America, in which Ms. Fiona Clouder, Regional Ambassador for the Caribbean & Latin America, COP26, presented her country's progress in this matter and called for exchange and agreement between our nations, in view of the challenges aggravated by the impact of COVID-19. The heads of mission of our region accredited in the country participated in this event.
Montalvo reiterated Cuba's support to COP 26, under the presidency of the Government of the United Kingdom, to achieve its success with tangible results. The Ambassador stressed that strong political will is required from all states if we are to achieve the goal set to keep the temperature increase below 1.5°C. "Facing climate change and its effects requires urgent action, so more ambitious post-2020 commitments are essential, first and foremost from developed countries," she added. "Developing countries face structural problems, high debts, difficulties in market access and other objective factors that will be worsened under the current circumstances, with the impact of COVID-19, and for which national solutions will not be enough"; "if we want to turn climate and environmental challenges into opportunities for development, growth and job creation, it will be necessary to strengthen international cooperation," she said.
Montalvo also referred to the scientific research carried out by her country in early 1991 to assess impacts, especially related to sea level rise, risk; vulnerability and disaster risk studies; and the Macro Project on Coastal Hazards and Vulnerability for the years 2050-2100. They form the basis for the Task Life plan until 2030, part of experiences and projects that we have shared with Caribbean countries.
"We encourage solidarity and unconditional support for the countries of the Caribbean and other small island states affected by climate events that have been unusually intense, frequent and destructive, and for which we demand fair, special and differential treatment."
Reiterating Cuba's commitment to global efforts to address climate change, she explained that Cuba is currently working to update its National Determined Contribution, which is not limited to mitigation, but includes adaptation and means of implementation.
Ambassador Clouder acknowledged Cuba's cooperation with the countries of the Caribbean, which she described as a reference of how they can work in the different regions, considering the particularities of each country, to face what she considered the greatest challenge of Humanity.
Embassy of Cuba in the United Kingdom