ST. JOHN'S, Antigua and Barbuda — Caribbean leaders have thrown their full support behind Guyana's campaign to host the 35th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP35) in 2030, marking a significant push to bring one of the world's largest climate gatherings to the region.
According to Antigua News Room, the endorsement was formalised during the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), held in Saint Lucia, where leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the region's climate agenda.
Heads of Government also endorsed the CARICOM Climate Diplomacy and COP35 Framework (2026–2030) as the Community's overarching strategy for promoting member states' interests in international climate negotiations.
The framework, according to the meeting's communiqué, will guide CARICOM's engagement in the lead-up to COP31, scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026, while supporting the region's broader long-term climate objectives.
Leaders reaffirmed that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels remains a central priority, alongside securing formal recognition of the special circumstances facing Small Island Developing States in global climate negotiations.
As part of the campaign, CARICOM urged high-level participation in the Second Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit, set to be held in Guyana from October 26 to 28, 2026.
Should Guyana's bid prove successful, it would become the first CARICOM member state to host a United Nations Climate Change Conference — a milestone that would direct global attention to the Caribbean's vulnerability to climate change and the region's longstanding advocacy for increased climate finance and resilience.
