OECS 13th Council of Ministers: Environmental Sustainability Meeting (COM:ES 13) to Convene in Dominica

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission will convene the 13^th Council of Ministers: Environmental Sustainability Meeting (COM:ES 13) on May 27–28, 2026, in the Commonwealth of Dominica under the theme: “The OECS Collective Resolve: Innovative Pathways in a High-Risk Global Landscape.”

The high-level meeting will bring together Ministers responsible for Environmental Sustainability from across the OECS Member States and Associate Members, alongside regional and international development partners, technical agencies, researchers, and environmental practitioners. The meeting will be chaired by the Honorable Cozier Frederick, Minister for Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment, of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Hosted against the backdrop of increasing climate threats and global environmental uncertainty facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS), COM:ES 13 will focus on strengthening regional cooperation and advancing practical, innovative, and coordinated solutions to support environmental sustainability and resilience throughout the OECS region.

The meeting builds on the landmark decisions of COM:ES 10, where Ministers endorsed the OECS Environmental Sustainability Roadmap to 2030, aligned with the St. George’s Declaration for Environmental Sustainability (SGD 2040) and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).

Discussions during the two-day meeting will examine strategic priorities, including:

Ministers and technical experts will also address critical regional issues such as climate finance, ecosystem restoration, marine pollution, sustainable fisheries, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, sargassum management, integrated land and water management, and disaster resilience.

The meeting will feature Ministerial panels, technical presentations, partner interventions, and strategic discussions aimed at accelerating transformational environmental action across the OECS. Several regional and international organisations are expected to contribute to the discussions, including the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the Commonwealth Secretariat, the World Bank, the European Union, Expertise France, IUCN, and other strategic partners.

In parallel with the ministerial meeting, the OECS Commission and the Government of Dominica will also host an Environmental Sustainability Exhibition from May 25–28, 2026, at the Goodwill Parish Hall, Roseau, Dominica, under the sub-theme: “From Aspiration to Focused Action.”

The exhibition will showcase innovative environmental sustainability initiatives, projects, technologies, and climate solutions across the OECS region, with a special focus on sargassum management, renewable energy, and mangrove restoration and conservation.

Interactive displays, videos, virtual reality experiences, educational exhibits, and project showcases will provide visitors and students with opportunities to explore regional responses to climate and environmental challenges.

The exhibition will also feature ongoing OECS environmental programmes, including the EU-funded BioSPACE and Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) programmes, Resilient Ecosystems Through Mangrove Restoration (REMAR) Project, Sargassum Regional Strategies for Ecosystem-Based Actions (SARSEA), Climate and Disaster Resilience initiatives, Sustainable Energy programmes, and Ocean Governance and Fisheries projects.

The OECS Commission views COM:ES 13 as a critical platform for advancing collective regional action and reinforcing the OECS commitment to resilient, sustainable, and inclusive development in an increasingly complex global environment.