Small islands push for climate action, damages

Addressing the U.N. Climate Change conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne slammed fossil fuel companies and called for a global carbon tax to help fund poorer nations fighting climate change.

Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda said "In the first half of this year, six fossil fuel companies, and I emphasize - six -made more than enough money to cover the costs of major climate damages in developing countries, with nearly 70 billion dollars in profits.

It is about time that these companies are made to pay a global carbon tax on their profits as a source of funding for loss and damage. While they are profiting, the planet is burning." Financing to address loss and damage and a recommitment to keeping 1.5 alive in the face of the current energy crisis, are the key critical success factors of COP27."

Browne, who was speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, urged "collective action to reduce emissions and to end fossil fuel subsidies".