BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 22, 2024 (SKNIS) – At the 2024 Global Sustainable Islands Summit being held on Prince Edward Island, Canada, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, the Honourable Dr. Joyelle Clarke, highlighted the government’s vision and progress towards transforming the twin-island Federation into a Sustainable Island State by 2040.
Minister Clarke stated that this transformation, which is twinned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), is premised on digital transformation and climate resilience with the aim of boosting self-sufficiency and promoting survivability.
“It is a commitment that the government has made to digitise government services and also to make sure that every single child in St. Kitts and Nevis has access to technology that allows them to be part of the global transformation. So while we are pushing for climate resilience, we are also centering people through digital transformation and social protection,” said Dr. Clarke while presenting on a high-level panel on ‘Islands Leading on Climate Action’.
Minister Clarke was joined on that panel on Wednesday, May 22, by the Honourable Steven Myers, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action on Prince Edward Island; the Honourable Kerryne James, Grenada’s Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment & Renewable Energy, and James Ellsmoor, Chief Executive Officer of Island Innovation.
The government’s Sustainable Island State Agenda is based on seven key pillars, namely green energy transition, food security, economic diversification, sustainable industries, the creative economy, social protection, and COVID-19 recovery.
Dr. Clarke said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, remains committed to achieving this ambitious agenda that is premised on protecting the people and safeguarding the environment.
Dr. Clarke also used the opportunity to share with her fellow panellists and those in attendance that St. Kitts and Nevis now ranks number one in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in terms of human development. This was outlined in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2023-24 Human Development Report (HDR).
Minister Clarke said that this is a significant achievement as it highlights the substantial investments made towards improving the lives and livelihoods of the people and ensuring the most marginalised benefit from social protection programmes.
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