Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3), revealed during a press conference on Friday, December 12, 2025, that the Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund will be launched in Kenya in June 2026. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Climate Envoy, Dr Kedrick D. Pickering said with the establishment of the Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund, the country is well positioned to access over $100 billion in international funding. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund will be launched during the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) will be held in Mombasa and Kilifi, Kenya. Photo: Our Ocean Conference

The VICCTF was supposed to be launched at the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025; however, its launch was postponed

“I’m intending to do that at the United Nations Oceans Conference in Kenya next June,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3), revealed during a press conference on Friday, December 12, 2025. 

The 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) will be held in Mombasa and Kilifi, Kenya, from June 16 to 18, 2026, under the theme ‘Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future’. 

VICCTF grants access to over $100B in funding

Meanwhile, Climate Envoy, Dr Kedrick D. Pickering, said the VI is one of, if not the only, English-speaking Caribbean country and Small Island Developing State with an established legal and administrative infrastructure to be able to access international funding geared towards fighting climate change and mitigation. 

“By establishment of our Climate Change Trust Fund, we now have a mechanism to be able to access the funding that I am told is in excess of 100 billion, to be able to utilise those funding.”

Dr Pickering added that with the formalisation of the trust fund and putting the necessary administrative structure in place, the VI can access the necessary funding to “help us to do the things that are needed for our overall sustainability.”

VICCTF is designed to mobilise, manage and disburse climate finance for priority climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives outlined in The Virgin Islands Climate Change Policy to achieve a climate-smart island chain. 

The fund attracted significant regional and international support during COP30, where it was presented. 

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https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/major-support-for-vi-climate-change-trust-fund-cop30