Vice Minister Emanuela Del Re attended, in VTC, the fourth meeting of the “Contact Group on COVID-19 of Ministers for Development”. The meeting, organized by Canada and the United Kingdom, particularly examined the problems of the small island states of the Caribbean and Pacific (SIDS).
The Vice Minister recalled the Italian co-presidency of COP 26 and the presidency of the G20 in 2021. Our country, she said, will use these opportunities to support the full implementation of the Paris Accords and to give priority to the global effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, the Deputy Minister recalled Italy’s adhesion to the G20 debt service suspension initiative.
“It is crucial to fully support SIDS that are suffering serious consequences from climate change, in addition to the economic consequences of the pandemic,” said the Vice Minister.
“Italy – she continued – has supported the inclusion of small islands among the countries that will be able to benefit from fair access to the vaccine through resources of the GAVI Advance Market Commitment (AMC), in which Italy participates. We have also encouraged their full participation through regional groups in the Facilitation Council of the ACT Accelerator”.
Finally, the Vice Minister recalled the Food Coalition, an initiative promoted by our country at FAO: an important inclusive tool that allows all countries to pool resources and expertise to ensure food security in the challenging post COVID phase.
