Minister of Sustainable Development addresses Environment Social and Governance Framework and Legislation supporting SDGs in regional panel discussion

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, 21st April, 2023 – Minister of Sustainable Development, Hon Dr Joyelle Clarke, represented the Government of St Kitts and Nevis during a virtual panel discussion for the 2023 Island Finance Forum on the Evolution of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG Agenda) with a focus on the Future of Sustainable Development Policy.

Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) directly speak to a framework used to assess an organization’s business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues.

The discussion centered on the current and future state of sustainable policy and saw several experts from around the region, including Ministers from Anguilla, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica discussing active policies and legislations that are in the pipeline for their respective countries and regionally. 

Minister Clarke said as a politician, feminist, academic and climate justice advocate, she uses a multi-lens approach when addressing matters of Sustainability. Dr. Clarke emphasized the importance of understanding who is most impacted when one thinks about achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, legislation, and an ESG framework and also consider how the most vulnerable can be protected.

Minister Clarke posed a critical question, “How do we look at inclusion, biodiversity, environmental conservation and governance structures which empower? The reality for St Kitts-Nevis is that we made a commitment last year to transform our island into a sustainable island state. That was not a small commitment. That was a very new and young government saying to the people of St Kitts-Nevis and to the world, that we recognize our vulnerability; We recognize that most of our challenges are external, but we want to transform. 

Further, Dr Clarke examined ways and means in which to attract sustainable financing by inviting the panel to think about several possibilities for the private sector to partner with the government in financing the transformation to a Sustainable Island State. The Ministry of Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment is actively developing the framework to support the transformation. This will be a strategic partnership for collective climate action with the government, civil society, and the private sector.  
 

The Island Finance Forum 2023, hosted by Island Innovation, a global network that connects and promotes sustainable projects, was opened to development partners, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and other cross-sector experts from around the world, to discuss the current challenges and opportunities of mobilizing financing for inclusive and sustainable development.

Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) directly speak to a framework used to assess an organization’s business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues.

The discussion centered on the current and future state of sustainable policy and saw several experts from around the region, including Ministers from Anguilla, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica discussing active policies and legislations that are in the pipeline for their respective countries and regionally. 

Minister Clarke said as a politician, feminist, academic and climate justice advocate, she uses a multi-lens approach when addressing matters of Sustainability. Dr. Clarke emphasized the importance of understanding who is most impacted when one thinks about achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, legislation, and an ESG framework and also consider how the most vulnerable can be protected.

Minister Clarke posed a critical question, “How do we look at inclusion, biodiversity, environmental conservation and governance structures which empower? The reality for St Kitts-Nevis is that we made a commitment last year to transform our island into a sustainable island state. That was not a small commitment. That was a very new and young government saying to the people of St Kitts-Nevis and to the world, that we recognize our vulnerability; We recognize that most of our challenges are external, but we want to transform. 

Further, Dr Clarke examined ways and means in which to attract sustainable financing by inviting the panel to think about several possibilities for the private sector to partner with the government in financing the transformation to a Sustainable Island State. The Ministry of Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment is actively developing the framework to support the transformation. This will be a strategic partnership for collective climate action with the government, civil society, and the private sector.  
 

The Island Finance Forum 2023, hosted by Island Innovation, a global network that connects and promotes sustainable projects, was opened to development partners, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and other cross-sector experts from around the world, to discuss the current challenges and opportunities of mobilizing financing for inclusive and sustainable development.

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