“We are charting a path for future generations, stressing the importance of conservation throughout the region.” ~ Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada.
“Protecting our natural resources is one of the biggest opportunities of our lifetime, and nowhere is it more evident than in the Caribbean.” ~ Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group.
On 17 May 2013, nine Caribbean governments, fifteen corporations and about 30 partner organizations (e.g. multilateral institutions, development cooperation agencies, NGOs and private foundations), met on Necker Island the home of Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, in the British Virgin Islands and made a series of bold commitments to preserve and protect the region’s marine and coastal environment. This Summit of Caribbean Political and Business Leaders, hosted by Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE, Premier of the British Virgin Islands, and Sir Richard Branson, officially launched the second phase of the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (2013-2018).
From Commitment to Action
The Caribbean Challenge Initiative governments: The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines endorsed the ‘Leaders Declaration’, a bold and aspirational set of commitments guided by two overarching goals:
- “20 by 20 Goal”: In each participating country and territory, to protect at least 20 percent of the Caribbean’s marine and coastal environment by 2020,
- Sustainable Finance Goal: To achieve the “20 by 20 Goal”, to have in place fully functioning sustainable finance mechanisms that will provide long-term and reliable funding to conserve and sustainably manage the marine and coastal resources and the environment in each participating country and territory.
Fifteen CCI companies - Bamboo Sushi, Disney Cruise Line, GOOD, Grupo Propagas, Grupo Puntacana, Guy Harvey Sportswear, KOR Water, NRG Energy, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Sandals Resorts International, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Tiffany & Co., Tropical Shipping, Virgin Group, Hublot - signed a Corporate Compact committing them to funding for marine conservation, changes in business practices and support of the key commitments in the Leaders Declaration.
“As business and government leaders in the Caribbean, we have agreed today that both sectors need to work together to ensure that the beautiful marine and coastal areas in the Caribbean are protected.” Caribbean Political and Business Leaders Summit Communiqué, 17 May 2013.
Learn More:
The Caribbean Challenge initiative has tremendous potential to chart a new course for the Caribbean's marine and coastal environment, and to deliver a brighter future for the people of the region.
Learn more about the Caribbean Challenge Initiative:
- CCI Website: www.caribbeanchallengeinitiative.org
- Download the 2017 Caribbean Challenge Initiative Fact Sheet
- Download the 2017 Caribbean Biodiversity Fund Fact Sheet
- Contact Hayden Redhead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.