Attending an international climate conference helped establish Bermuda as an environmental leader.

David Burt, the Premier, and Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, recently attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28, in Dubai.

He went not just representing Bermuda but also as part of a contingent of representatives from British Overseas Territories.

When asked if Bermuda could expect to see some material benefits from the trip, Mr Roban said: “The Premier was there in the business development side. He did attend COP, but his role was as the finance minister and fostering stronger economic ties with the region, particularly with the United Arab Emirates.”

The minister said he focused on climate-related matters and believed that Bermuda came out of COP28 “positioned as a leader”.

“A leader in the response to matters related to climate change, response related to our role as a strong environmental steward, but also our role as being a centre for solutions,” added the minister.

When asked if anything of material benefit would come from COP28, Mr Roban said: “Going to a conference is not just about bringing back something material, it’s also about having good strong representation of who we are, what we’re representing, and why people need to look at Bermuda as somewhere of interest.

“I believe that what we did at COP28, and COP26 prior to that, is showing Bermuda to be somewhere where people can look to solutions and invest in solutions.”

Many countries and organisations were disappointed with the final COP28 declaration, which encourages countries to move away from fossil fuels and quickly ramp up renewable energy.

Small island states said the declaration left “a litany of loopholes” and did not require countries to phase out fossil fuels.

Mr Roban said: “Well, I’ll say this, I would have wanted an unequivocal statement of the world moving away from fossil fuels by a certain time.

“As a person from an island community, we are on the front line of climate change as are other islands, certainly our friends and colleagues in the Alliance of Small Island States.

“Their exposure is real and they’re the ones who certainly feel let down by what seemed to be a watered down conclusion. And I stand with them in their disappointment.

“But it’s ultimately what we decide to do and how we support each other, and what actions we take between now and the next COP that would determine the direction that not only our communities go, but the actual world goes.”

The United Arab Emirates is one of the largest oil producers in the world and Mr Roban admitted that “well, that was an issue”.

“Perhaps that is something for those who organised these conferences to address. I don't have a role in that. Bermuda is not a member of the United Nations.”