Small countries play crucial role on climate

Small countries have a crucial role in urging wealthier nations to take climate change seriously, as the issue is an existential one for them, according to the UK’s special Representative for Climate Change.

Ensuring that politicians commit to climate change required action from all, including civil society, small States, businesses and financial investors, Nick Bridge said.

“Small vulnerable Island States had a huge impact in achieving the Paris Agreement on Climate Change as they showed the rest of the world that the issue was an existential one for them.

“Businesses also have to shift their models to sustainable ones as otherwise they won’t have a future, while financial centres have to invest money in green centres if they want a financial return in the future. Everyone has a stake and an opportunity to play a role.”

Mr Bridge was speaking to The Sunday Times of Malta following a debate on ‘Climate Change and Small States’. It was held last week in Malta in the run-up to the UN Climate Summit in September and as part of a series of events marking the 70th Anniversary since the foundation of the Commonwealth.

It follows the publication of a UN landmark report warning about...