BARBADOS / GUTERRES CARICOM

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged world leaders to step up efforts to safeguard the Caribbean, warning that the region is facing increasingly severe storms, rising seas, and economic strain due to environmental challenges. “The exquisite beauty of the Caribbean is famed the world over. But there is trouble in paradise,” Guterres told leaders at the CARICOM summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. UNITED NATIONS

• Video Length: 00:02:07
• Production Date: 20 February 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: ANTONIO GUTERRES
• Corporate Name: CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY - CARICOM
• Geographic Subject: CARIBBEAN
• MAMS Id: 3341192
• Parent Id: 3341192
• Alternate Title: unifeed250220d

Description

STORY: BARBADOS / GUTERRES CARICOM
TRT: 02:07
SOURCE: UNITED NATIONS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 19 FEBRUARY 2025, BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS

Shotlist

1. Close up shot, CARICOM signage
2. Wide shot, pan right, audience
3. Wide shot, António Guterres at the dais
4. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The exquisite beauty of the Caribbean is famed the world over. But there is trouble in paradise. Wave after wave of crisis is pounding your people and your islands – with no time to catch your breath before the next disaster strikes.”
5. Wide shot, pan right, audience
6. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The cure for these ills is global. International solutions are essential to create a better today and a brighter tomorrow for this wonderful region, and for the world. We have progress on which to build – hard-won global commitments to address the immense challenges we face. But we need the world to deliver.”
7. Wide shot, audience
8. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“You face a deplorable injustice: A crisis you have done next to nothing to create is wrecking economies, ruining lives, and threatening your very existence. Together, you have fought tooth and nail for the global commitment to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. This year, countries must deliver new national climate action plans, ahead of COP30, that align with that goal, with the G20 – the big polluters – leading the way. This is a chance for the world to get a grip on emissions. And it is also a chance for the Caribbean to seize the benefits of clean power. To tap your vast renewables potential. And to turn your back on costly fossil fuel imports.”

Storyline

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged world leaders to step up efforts to safeguard the Caribbean, warning that the region is facing increasingly severe storms, rising seas, and economic strain due to environmental challenges.

“The exquisite beauty of the Caribbean is famed the world over. But there is trouble in paradise,” Guterres told leaders at the CARICOM summit in Bridgetown. “Wave after wave of crisis is pounding your people and your islands – with no time to catch your breath before the next disaster strikes.”

Guterres emphasized that only global cooperation can provide lasting solutions. “The cure for these ills is global,” he said. “International solutions are essential to create a better today and a brighter tomorrow for this wonderful region, and for the world.”

He also called attention to the disproportionate burden Caribbean nations face despite contributing little to environmental changes. “You face a deplorable injustice: A crisis you have done next to nothing to create is wrecking economies, ruining lives, and threatening your very existence,” he said.

Guterres urged major economies, particularly the G20, to take the lead in reducing emissions and investing in cleaner energy. “This year, countries must deliver new national climate action plans, ahead of COP30, that align with that goal,” he said. “This is a chance for the world to get a grip on emissions. And it is also a chance for the Caribbean to seize the benefits of clean power—to tap your vast renewables potential and to turn your back on costly fossil fuel imports.”