U.S Embassy Guyana | June 10, 2021 | PRESS RELEASE
Georgetown, Guyana June 10, 2021—The United States Agency for International Development Eastern and Southern Caribbean Mission (USAID/ESC) is pleased to announce the upcoming virtual symposium “Climate Change: Refresh, Renew and Re-pivot to Action.” This eight-part, public series will feature virtual events over three-weeks during June 2021. Regional participants include CARICOM, national governments, USAID partners, the private sector, civil society, and the general public.
“We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change. This is a global, existential crisis, and we’ll all suffer the consequences if we fail,” President Joe Biden said as the United States rejoined the Paris agreement on January 27, 2021. With this move, the U.S Government is once again making confronting the climate crisis one of its highest goals, pledging to tackle this threat both domestically and abroad by promoting a significant increase in global climate action. This development presents an immediate opportunity for USAID to resume efforts to mitigate climate change and address its impacts along with its partners.
“Just as we partnered six years ago to lead nearly 200 countries to reach the most ambitious agreement in history to combat the climate crisis, I am confident that we can set our sights even higher, ” USAID Administrator Samantha Powers said.
USAID/ESC’s symposium aims to renew and strengthen existing partnerships in the region by encouraging dialogue and sharing information and opportunities on climate change. With its opening session on June 16, the event will feature representatives from the U.S. Government, CARICOM, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center, and other regional organizations. It will conclude in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between USAID and leading regional climate change entities, solidifying a commitment to collaboration.
Other symposium sessions will feature presentations and panel discussions from scientists, the private sector, government, civil society and youth leadership, as well as academia. These regional climate change experts will share information on the impacts of this crisis in priority sectors and fields, existing responses, best practices and gaps as well as regional opportunities to strengthen resilience.
SCHEDULE AND SESSION THEMES
June 16
- Symposium Opening Session I – 9–10 a.m EDT: Refresh, Renew, and Re-pivot for Climate Action
- Session II – 10:30–11:50 a.m EDT: Presentations by Climate Experts on Current Impacts and Future Projections
June 23
- Session III – 10–11:30 a.m EDT: Panel Discussion on Social, Health, and Economic Impacts of Climate Change
- Session IV – 1–2:20 p.m EDT: Panel Discussion on Climate impacts on Key Sectors “Listening to the Field”
June 24
- Session V – 9:30–11:00 a.m EDT: Presentations on Eastern and Southern Caribbean Country Responses
- Session VI – 1:30–2:30 p.m EDT: Interactive Panel Discussion on Youth Impact and Engagement
June 30
- Session VII – 10–11 a.m EDT: Panel Discussion on Financing for Adaptation and Reducing Risk
- Symposium Closing Session VIII – 1–2:30 p.m EDT: Presentations by USAID on Approaches to Climate Change and symposium summary
Further details and how to join will be available soon on Facebook and Twitter.
For additional information, please contact:
Ayesha Lett
Development Outreach & Communications Specialist
USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean
Cell: 246-230-2527
Email: alett@usaid.gov
