Prime Minister Davis’ Remarks on the Bahama Banks Blue Carbon Project

For thousands of years, life on Planet Earth has thrived. And yet today, the planet’s ecosystems are rapidly being degraded and destroyed.  

These biodiversity hotspots are the planet’s natural capital and losing them has led to over 38% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions – reducing our planet’s resiliency to mitigate the effects of climate change.

My name is Philip Brave Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, an ocean state of 700 islands and cays, covering 100,000 square miles which is under threat. Despite being responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, my country is among the most climate-vulnerable nations on Earth.

And so – The Bahamas has found a solution…

Harnessing novel technologies, we have been able to map the largest seagrass meadow on earth – and realize its value as the ocean’s largest natural carbon sink.  

I am proud to introduce The Bahama Banks Blue Carbon Project – the world’s first market-based solution that changes the calculus of how we partner with nature on our planet – allowing us to protect this asset, and realize the value that it provides to our Earth.

This country-wide, nature-based initiative empowers community resilience across our islands and will sustain livelihoods for generations of Bahamians to come. 

Furthermore, this project is a major milestone towards achieving international, net zero carbon emissions.

Together, we are laying the blueprint for a livable, and resilient, Bahamian future.