Trinidad and Tobago, November 2025 – With funding support from the Government of Saint Lucia through the CLIMB-SLU Readiness Grant (Green Climate Fund Readiness Programme), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) convened the inaugural Eastern Caribbean Sustainable Finance Roundtable. 32 representatives from commercial banks across the region, who are members of CAB, attended the Roundtable in-person while stakeholders from credit unions and insurance agencies joined virtually.   

The Roundtable is designed as a collaboration platform to provide opportunities for licensed financial institutions (LFIs) and other financial sector executives to engage in dialogue, share experiences, and jointly develop solutions to advance environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and address other emerging sustainable finance priorities. 

Mr. Imran Williams, Saint Lucia’s Director of Finance believes that for Saint Lucia to truly achieve its’ national sustainable finance goals, it must partner with regional colleagues in pursuit of similar objectives. He remarked that “the Roundtable reflects Saint Lucia’s commitment to deepening the integration of climate finance within our national development framework. However, we cannot meet all our goals without strengthening and relying on the critical partnerships necessary to support us along our journey. As Saint Lucia continues to strengthen coordination across sectors, this regional dialogue will help ensure we build the right collaborations and networks that will strengthen our financial systems to be more responsive and resilient, and aligned with our climate goals.” 

The CAB, which has a mandate to protect, promote and strengthen the regional banking sector, requested the Roundtable to be held during its 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference.  

Wendy Delmar, CAB’s Chief Executive Officer said, “CAB believes that the work of GGGI on sustainable finance is timely and essential to advancing the sustainability aspirations of our LFIs and so we are happy to provide the space on our AGM calendar for the hosting of the Sustainable Finance Roundtable.” 

Financial institutions in the Eastern Caribbean are becoming increasingly aware of the negative impact of ESG risks on their business profitability and the financial sustainability of their clients. However, many institutions have not yet fully developed the necessary policies to address these risks. In some cases, they operate without dedicated ESG teams, have not introduced green financial solutions and products, and have yet to integrate ESG criteria into client and transaction approval processes. Moreover, they generally do not review the exposure of their portfolio to climate-related risks.   

Dr. Sherry Constantine, Sustainable Finance Senior Officer at GGGI, stated “over time, via this engagement platform, members will have access to the expertise, tools and resources needed to meet the evolving demands of investors and regulators.  It is hoped that with the support of the Roundtable, sustainable financing including ESG considerations will no longer be merely a niche concept in our region, but rather a fundamental pillar of responsible finance that will guide the industry towards a more resilient and equitable future.”  

Recognizing the critical role of financial institutions in driving emerging opportunities in renewable energy, green technologies, sustainable agriculture and sustainable tourism, and in response to growing demand from socially conscious investors for more climate responsible investments, the Government of Saint Lucia, GGGI and CAB partnered to host the first sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Sustainable Finance Roundtable.   

During the first meeting, stakeholders assessed progress, identified key barriers to advancing sustainable finance, and explored innovative approaches to scale up green investments. Discussions highlighted practical examples of how financial institutions are integrating sustainability into their operations and strategies. At the end of the session, the organizers were provided with guidance from attendees on the structuring of the Roundtable including core and ad hoc membership, suggestions on its focal areas for support to members, the frequency of meetings, and the priority tasks to be completed over the next year.   

“The discussions reaffirmed the value of partnerships in advancing innovative financing solutions for small island states. The insights gained will help inform Saint Lucia’s next steps in mobilizing climate finance to support inclusive, sustainable growth” said Mr. Williams, Saint Lucia’s Director of Finance.    

This initiative builds on GGGI’s continued partnership with governments, financial institutions, and regional partners to promote the enabling environment for sustainable and climate-resilient finance. Efforts remain focused on building institutional capacity, mobilizing green investment, and integrating ESG and climate considerations into financial systems both at the public and private sector levels.  

Ravena Gildharie – Communication and Knowledge Sharing Regional Senior Associate, GGGI Caribbean   

ravena.gildharie@gggi.org