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VI’s Climate Change Trust Fund to launch @ UN Conference in November

-Road Town Partnership Project to benefit from VI Climate Change Trust Fund
The Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund will officially be launched internationally this November at the UN Climate Change Conference. Photo: Internet Source
Ms Angela Burnett Penn, Climate Change Officer in the Ministry of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, said while the Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund was established years ago, it now time to operationalise it. Photo: GIS
Ms Angela Burnett Penn, Climate Change Officer in the Ministry of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, said while the Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund was established years ago, it now time to operationalise it. Photo: GIS
The UN Climate Change Conference takes place from November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil. Photo: Internet Source
The UN Climate Change Conference takes place from November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil. Photo: Internet Source
Road Town, Tortola, VI- The Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund will officially be launched internationally this November at the UN Climate Change Conference.

This announcement was made by Ms Angela Burnett Penn, Climate Change Officer in the Ministry of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change. 

Speaking at the Town Hall Meeting for the Road Town Partnership project on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Ms Burnett Penn indicated that although the fund was established several years ago under The Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund Act of 2015, now is the time to operationalise it, bringing the fund to life. 

International climate financing

She explained, “Essentially, the purpose of the fund is to raise international sources of climate finance from various avenues, whether they be bilateral funds from countries, independent donors, charity organisations, or philanthropists.”

She also said there are several innovative market mechanisms, such as blue bonds and carbon credits, that could potentially serve as funding sources. 

“The goal is to blend these funds to support local efforts to adapt to climate change and transition to renewable energy.” 

Ms Burnett Penn highlighted that funds received by the trust would support projects under the Road Town partnership, as long as they are connected to climate change. She mentioned examples of initiatives that could help reduce flood risks in the capital and mitigate the impact of sargassum and more. 

Road Town Partnership to benefit from the trust

She commended the government and the Premier for providing seed capital to the fund. Forty per cent of the Environmental and Tourism Improvement Fund, derived from a $10 levy, has now been dedicated to the trust fund, which will serve as the initial capital to launch the fund and support initial projects. 

“Who knows, some of the projects under the Road Town initiative may be immediately supported by the trust fund. We will be launching the fund internationally at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in November, hoping it will attract initial donors from the international community,” she added. 

The fund is working towards blended finance, which would include support from the local private sector. 

“The trust fund will provide a secure and transparent mechanism through which these funds can flow and be reinvested in projects specifically related to Road Town.”

6 Responses to “VI’s Climate Change Trust Fund to launch @ UN Conference in November”

  • Government Trust Fund (05/07/2025, 09:31) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    An oxymoron if ever I’ve heard one
  • A Capitalist Who Loves the BVI (05/07/2025, 10:25) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yet another boondoggle, creating a position in the Territory's government and then funding it with monies for as yet undefined "projects" that should be used elsewhere (how about water leaks and insufficient sewage treatment, just to name a few). Note that there's a 10 day "conference" in Brazil scheduled for November, and you can bet your bottom dollar that the BVI will send another "delegation" to run up a huge travel and hotel bill, all the while talking about an issue that even if you believe is real, the BVI cannot do ANYTHING to affect it.
    • on point Capitalist .. (05/07/2025, 13:19) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      We dont always agree but you’re absolutely right on this one, Capitalist. Yes, the climate is changing — that’s not in dispute — but the alarmism has been wildly overstated, often as a vehicle to funnel billions into political pet projects and favored agendas. The apocalyptic predictions we’ve been fed for decades just haven’t come true Thus the constant name changes form global warming to the current climate change.. There’s been serious overreach. This isn’t the existential threat it’s constantly sold as — it’s a real issue, but not a world-ender. The conversation needs to be grounded and balanced, not hysterical. The fact is technology will midigate much of the impact. With the current U.S. administration, there’s little appetite for climate theatrics — best case, they nod politely. Lest people forget President Nixon Rebublican founded the EPA , but when an issue becomes less grounded in facts and more in ideology you get divergence and less practical solutions
  • Roger Burnett (05/07/2025, 10:45) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Climate change has been has been around since the time of Noah but we didn't hear much about it until it became a means of attracting funding. And without its ability to attract funding, I doubt that we would hear much about it today.

    Assuming the increase of climate change is linked to pollution, Road Town would be better off without cruise ships. Cruise ships rank as one of the worst polluters.
  • bologna (05/07/2025, 12:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Website for this new thing says they will judge proposals before they give away $. Did they already award RT projects?
  • Senior native citizen of the British Virgin Islands (05/07/2025, 19:50) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The location of some countries are in the north pole area, while others are in the south pole area, but the B.V.I is located not to far north of the equator, but close enough that not snow falls here. Because of this fact, we do experience hot, warm, and, in the winter time, chill weather, annual. Ever since the earth was created, in my opinion, what government trust fund in the B.V.I have to do with this?
    In my honest opinion, this is just another political gemmIck being played,on the people of the B.V.I to sow fear in their mind, scamming tactics at work, in my opinion, here, there, and everywhere money is being use to catapult greedy-minded people to Mount wealthy fast.



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