A group of Caribbean countries is seeking to raise $200 million to support a regional biodiversity initiative aimed at strengthening conservation efforts and increasing their influence over international environmental projects. The plan is being developed through the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and involves its 12 member countries, according to Grenada’s climate ambassador Safiya Sawney.
The initiative is linked to the global “30×30” goal, an international target agreed in 2022 that calls for protecting 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. Caribbean governments hope the regional approach will help align conservation efforts with national priorities while improving the effectiveness of international funding.
Addressing gaps in conservation funding
Over the past two decades, the region received roughly $650 million in conservation financing, but outcomes have often been limited because projects did not always align with governments’ priorities
“From the outside looking in, you say, ‘Well, that’s a lot of money. Why do you need more?’. The issue … is that we’re not seeing that in the impact”, Sawney said.
Seeking new sources of investment
The hope is that cross-border initiatives, with government oversight from the start, will be more effective as they mix multilateral, bilateral, philanthropic and private sector funding along with financial tools such as debt-for-nature swaps, Safiya Sawney said.
The push comes as small island developing states face growing climate pressures. According to the Global Center on Adaptation, these countries require around $12 billion annually to adapt to climate change, but they currently receive only about $2 billion in funding each year.
A test case for regional climate action
“There’s a huge disconnect between what the governments have invested time and effort into planning for themselves, based on their own indigenous circumstances, and what the donor is funding,” Sawney said.”We’re challenging them to say ‘No, you have to do a better job if you really want to ensure that your money stretches. You have to trust us, trust that we know what would we need to do for ourselves’.”
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