UK and Caribbean business leaders to discuss the threats and opportunities arising from climate change.
2nd UK/Caribbean Business Forum, 8th June, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
According to scientists working with the United Nations, the international community has only to 2020 until reverse the process of climate change through reducing carbon emissions if catastrophic changes in sea levels, extreme weather conditions, tidal surges and extensive damage to reefs and coastlines are to be avoided.
Environmental security resulting from climate change is now at the top of the international agenda. In recognition of this, the second UK/Caribbean Business Forum, which will take place in Port of Spain, Trinidad on June 8th, 2007 will solely focus on the challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean arising out of the global response to climate change.
The forum will detail how the current international focus on climate change will, in practical terms, impact on Caribbean business practice. It will further explore how the Caribbean private sector should harness the economic opportunities which are arising from the ongoing debate on climate change.
The opening session will include an address by the Hon Anthony Hylton, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica, Dimitri Zenghelis, lead author of the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, and Dr Kenrick Leslie, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre. Panel speakers from the Caribbean and UK private sector will put the growing international debate into a Caribbean and business context.
The conference follows from a decision taken in 2004 by Caribbean and British Ministers that in the years between the biennial UK/Caribbean Government to Government Forum, the Caribbean Association of Industry & Commerce (CAIC) and the Caribbean Britain Business Council (CBBC) would jointly organise a private sector exchange that would focus on themes relevant to the development of the UK/Caribbean investment and trade relationship. The discussions and outcome of this forum will feed into the agenda of the next UK/Caribbean Government to Government Forum due to take place in the United Kingdom in 2008 and as such, the Forum presents a real opportunity for the views of the Caribbean private sector to be taken into account in the international policy discussions on climate change.
Attendance is open to the Caribbean and UK private sector and other key stakeholders with an interest in ensuring that the Caribbean region understands and maximises its response to the opportunities arising from global changing thinking about climate change. There is no charge for attending. The conference is sponsored by the following companies: OBM International, Global Development & Investment Partners , Eversheds LLP, Caribbean Airlines, Trinidad Bulk Traders Ltd, West Indian Tobacco Company and Atkins Global. There are a limited number of sponsorship opportunities still available.
For further information please contact Stephanie Whittle Stephanie.whittle@caribbean-council.org
The conference will be held at the Trinidad Hilton, Port of Spain. The conference has been organised by the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) and the Caribbean Britain Business Council (CBBC) with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Industry for Trinidad and Tobago and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The forum will be co-chaired by the President of the CAIC, James Moss Solomon, and the Chairman of the CBBC, Jeffries Briginshaw.