St. Kitts and Nevis has officially joined a growing coalition of nations supporting the proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, becoming the 17th country to participate in discussions aimed at phasing out fossil fuel extraction quickly and equitably.
The announcement came during the 62nd Session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Subsidiary Bodies, where world delegates gathered to address urgent climate issues. Prior to this, representatives met at the Third Senior Officials’ Meeting in Bonn to strategize the treaty’s advancement, a gathering that also drew interest from African and Asian governments.
Colincia Levine, Permanent Secretary in St Kitts and Nevis’ Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, emphasized the importance of the partnership: “This initiative is timely and strategic. This partnership is a great opportunity for Saint Kitts-Nevis, a small, island state that is advancing to energy sovereignty and climate resilience. It offers a platform that will help shape global dialogues and actions, based on the lived realities of vulnerable but determined nations. We welcome the chance to collaborate with other forward-looking nations, like ourselves, who are navigating development while committing themselves to a managed, equitable transition away fossil fuel dependency. We are all responsible for creating a future that is free of fossil fuel dependency.”
St Kitts and Nevis joins two other Caribbean nations in supporting the treaty discussions, a significant move given the region’s vulnerability to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, extreme weather, and marine ecosystem degradation. These risks threaten the country’s economy, which relies heavily on tourism and agriculture.
Despite progress in renewable energy, St Kitts and Nevis remains almost entirely dependent on fossil fuel imports, a strain on public finances and a barrier to accelerating its energy transition. Joining the treaty effort aligns with the country’s national target of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030 and its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Gillian Cooper, a prominent advocate for the treaty, welcomed St Kitts and Nevis’ support, stating: “Saint Kitts and Nevis’ support is not only a symbolic gesture. It’s a courageous and strategic act of leadership that also shows a strong signal of the growing momentum of the Fossil Fuel NPT Initiative. This decision reflects an urgent reality for small island developing countries, who bear the brunt of climate impacts even though they have contributed the least to this crisis. Saint Kitts and Nevis, by becoming the 17th nation in the world to join this global effort is not only advocating its own survival, but also setting an excellent example for other countries to prioritize people and planet. This is an important time to accelerate international collaboration, and we hope that this move will inspire other nations to join and commit themselves to a just and fair transition for everyone.”
The Senior Officials Meeting in Bonn marked the first official meeting of 2025 for participating countries. They outlined plans for upcoming meetings in September and at COP30 in November, including discussions on creating a dedicated process to negotiate and develop the Fossil Fuel Treaty by 2026. The group also explored diplomatic strategies to promote the treaty across multilateral and bilateral forums.
Momentum behind the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is clearly growing, as more nations recognize the urgent need for a managed, equitable transition away from fossil fuels to safeguard vulnerable populations and the planet.
