Cuban delegation active at climate change conference

HAVANA, Cuba, November 17 (ACN) The Cuban delegation fulfills a tight agenda at the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 30), held in Belém, Brazil ten years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

A series of presentations, interventions in sessions, negotiations, bilateral meetings, and tours characterize the program of activities of the national delegation, made up of Specialists from Cuban organizations, companies, projects, and civil society have made presentations, held meetings and participated in tours.

Armando Rodríguez Batista, Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA), met with his Venezuelan counterpart, Ricardo Molina, Minister of Popular Power for Ecosocialism, and visited the Japan Pavilion, where he learned details about cutting-edge technologies, whereas other members of the Cuban delegation met with Henry González, Director of Investments for the Green Climate Fund, as well as with representatives of the World Food Programme, with which the island maintains close cooperation since 1963, and with Dalila Gonçalves, Regional Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Likewise, there were meetings with Ramón Méndez, who led an energy transition plan that reduced Uruguay's dependence on imported fuels and allowed it to achieve 98% renewable energy in its energy mix.

Mr. Rodríguez, who inaugurated the Cuban Pavilion at COP 30, stressed that it will be a place to hold meetings and share views about the results of projects and initiatives related to priority sectors in national climate policy: energy, transportation, agriculture, and nature-based solutions.

He remarked that having this space demonstrates the consolidation and maturity of the science-based State Plan to Tackle Climate Change, known as Tarea Vida (Task Life) and paves the way for the discussion of new proposals with other countries, agencies, and international organizations.

“We hope that the Cuban Pavilion will be a symbol of solidarity, hope, and collective commitment,” the official stated.

Dr. Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, praised Cuba's work and its early warning and monitoring system and expressed her satisfaction with the results achieved in responding to extreme events, especially those of hydrometeorological origin, in response to the call from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Ms. Saulo learned about the severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in Eastern Cuba on October 29, and the role of Cuba's meteorological and hydrological stations, weather radars, provincial centers, and corresponding operational services.

She reaffirmed her support and offer of assistance to the Cuban State, as well as to also-affected nations such as Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, to help them recover their respective systems.