Nassau, Bahamas:  Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Hon. Clay Sweeting said that The Bahamas plans to place “relentless pressure” on larger countries with high carbon emissions during COP-27 to seek cleaner energy alternatives.

His comments came as he addressed a session of the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance’s Caribbean Planting Project Week Forum entitled “Partnerships for Climate Action, Mitigation and Adaption”.

 The virtual event is held from October 3-9. 

Minister Sweeting, who will also travel with Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and other high-level delegates to COP-27 in Egypt next month, told Caribbean ministers that the nation’s leader highlighted ongoing challenges during his recent address at the 77th United Nations General Assembly.

He added that Bahamian delegates are going to continue to sound the alarm that “the time for talk is over and it is now time for action”.

“Our efforts will be centered in encouraging larger countries to assist us in our fight against climate change. It is indeed a world war. The changing climate also affects our ability to produce food as it results in shrinking yields and the ability for our people to put food on the table,” Minister Sweeting said.

The minister also touted the efforts of the government and NGOs that are seeking to increase tree planting initiatives throughout The Bahamas to build climate resiliency.

Last year, the government along with the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance launched a 100K tree planting initiative.

“I am happy to report that with the assistance of volunteers and a number of non-governmental agencies that we have surpassed this goal and planted over 126,000 shrubs throughout our country. After Hurricane Dorian ravaged Abaco and Grand Bahama in 2019, our government has been keen to restore our pine forests and mangroves,” Minister Sweeting said.

“Meanwhile, the Bahamas National Trust has also been doing a tremendous job in promoting the planting and growing of trees. On earth day this past June, the BNT collaborated with numerous private sector stakeholders to plant native fruit trees such as soursop, avocado, mango, and guava along with other fruit bearing shrubs. Volunteers from around the country have also sought to increase shrubs throughout our nation and have placed species of tree seedlings in the ground such as Mahogany, Buttonwood, Paradise, Brown Ebony, and Gumbo Limbo – all of which are native to the region and adapted to local conditions.”

The Minister mentioned that his ministry continues to develop a cascarilla harvesting site through the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC).

He added that he hopes that other Caribbean countries will continue to voice their concerns about climate change and protecting the environment.

“We know the challenges, but we cannot face them alone. I am delighted that we are coming together to discuss the facilitation of planting more trees, which will lead to the restoration of our environments. We look forward to participating in more programmes to secure an environmentally sustainable and secure future,” Minister Sweeting said.