Antigua and Barbuda's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, has called for stronger partnerships, reliable climate financing, and concrete action to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the world stage. According to Antigua.news, Hill made the appeal during a high-level panel at Deutsche Bank's Beneath the Surface: Ocean Summit 2026.
High Commissioner Hill joined international leaders and climate experts on June 23 for a panel discussion titled "Ocean and Climate: From Pledges to Action," which focused on advancing ocean protection and climate resilience.
The session was moderated by Suresh Yadav, Senior Director of the Climate Change and Oceans Directorate at the Commonwealth Secretariat. Panellists included His Excellency Mukhtar Babayev, Special Representative of the President on Climate Issues of the Republic of Azerbaijan; His Excellency Jovilisi Suveinakama, High Commissioner of Fiji to the United Kingdom; and Faith Turan, Director General of Environmental Management in the Republic of Türkiye.
During the discussion, High Commissioner Hill highlighted the vital role the Commonwealth plays in supporting Small Island Developing States. She pointed specifically to initiatives such as the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, the Climate Finance Access Hub, and the Commonwealth's assistance to Antigua and Barbuda on boundary delimitation and ocean boundary matters.
Hill also pressed for a shift from commitments to action, stressing the need for predictable climate financing mechanisms and credible investment platforms that promote ocean conservation, resilience, and sustainable development for vulnerable nations.
Antigua and Barbuda's participation at the summit reflects the nation's continued advocacy on behalf of Small Island Developing States and its commitment to driving meaningful global action on climate and ocean sustainability.
