RC Trebucq’s Remarks at the Launch of the Resilient, Inclusive, Smart and Safe (RISS) Caribbean SIDS Model

Acknowledgements 

• The Honourable Colin Jordan - Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector 
• Development partners representing the High Commission of Canada to Bridgetown, Swedish Consulate, IDB, CDEMA the private sector
• Ms. Tonni Brodber – UN Women Representative
• Ms. Limya Eltayeb - UNDP Resident Representative
• Dr. Amalia Del Riego - PAHO Representative
• UN Agency Representatives and colleagues,
• Professor Michelle Mycoo, Keynote Speaker, and invited panellists
• Specially invited guests, and friends,

A special good morning, and Happy World Cities Day! Welcome again to this morning’s RISS Launch, and congratulations to UN Women and Development Partners in accomplishing all this far in your commitment to Goals 5, 10, 11, and 17 of the agenda 2030.  

Cities are here to stay.

They will be key to societal transformation, and in the face of economic uncertainty, the climate crisis, existing vulnerabilities, the risk that the poor become poorest, and hence given the risks that the marginalized are further left behind, it cannot be business as usual.

Therefore, my key message as Representative of the UN system is: Let’s avoid post-mortem responses, and rather support policies to invest in preventing large scale disasters and reducing vulnerabilities. This is what the RISS  is going to do, and I want to commend UNW and its partners for this important endeavour.

More than half of the Caribbean’s population lives in urban centres, with this number continuing to climb. 70% of Caribbean people live at or near sea level with almost all cities and major infrastructure being within 1 mile of the sea. 

In June, UN Habitat launched its 2022 World Cities Report, laying the vision of future cities globally. The report notes that resilient cities which are adaptable, inclusive, and well-planned; can build on these strengths to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable.

However, achieving urban resilience needs cooperation, consultation, and a forward-thinking attitude, to include those most vulnerable and affected by multiple layers of risks.

Bridging the gap between the two – SDGs 5 and 11, Gender Equality and Sustainable Cities and Communities, respectively, is critical. Ultimately, to secure a safe and sustainable urban future, we need to rethink and re-plan the way our cities and urban spaces are designed and managed.

So, in this context, the UN Women Caribbean MCO developed the Resilient, Inclusive, Smart and Safe (RISS) Cities Model. This will contribute to 3rd pillar of the UN Cooperation Framework for the Caribbean i.e., “Building resilience to climate change” and gender responsive climate change adaptation and mitigation capacities, as well as its gender mainstreaming enabler throughout the Caribbean.

At the national and regional levels, the RISS Cities Model breaks down targets as they relate to each of the four themes: resilience, inclusivity, use of smart technology, and safety and security. With the aim of improved public space through better planning, operation, and connectivity, I know we will continue to place people at the centre of everything we do, working together to achieve #TheGoals, and #LeaveNoOneBehind.

Today, it is my hope that this launch will leverage economic opportunities for women and other marginalized individuals of the Caribbean; opportunities which are climate responsive. Even beyond, I hope it enhances the capacities of urban planners, CSOs, the private sector to implement gender-resilient urban planning and management approaches.

I wish us all a wonderful launch, continued success, and energy to towards localizing the Resilient Urban Agenda and gender equality.