Today, Wayne Panton, Premier and Minister for Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Invest in Our Planet was the Earth Day theme for this year. This idea focuses on accelerating solutions to climate change across all levels and challenging the idea economic prosperity must be at the cost of our planet.
Said Premier Panton:
Demonstrations and protests focused on the tension between economic development and the environment long before 1972’s Earth Day. Data has shown that there is a direct correlation between sustainable business practices as well as share prices and business performance. Strong Environment Social Governance (ESG), standards are more profitable, more financially sound, happier employees, and better stock performance.
It is clear that our environment and economy are not antagonistic forces. They are both sides of the same coin.
According to Mr Panton the PACT government came into power last year with a vision “for Cayman Islands that is held up in the most sustainable country in the world, a trio island where all its residents can thrive; a peaceful, prosperous place known as its resourcefulness, diligence, excellence, and innovation.
Panton said that the PACT government is committed towards a sustainable approach to the economic, social, and environmental development in our Islands. “A sustainable approach means that we balance the conservation and development of the environment with the need to use some of it for social or economic reasons.”
Here are the thoughts and suggestions of Mr Panton about how to invest on the planet.
1. Innovation
Identifying ways to improve the efficiency of existing infrastructure, introducing new technologies, innovations, and collaborating to bring prosperity, peace, and planetary health together with other governments, individuals, and companies.
2. Sustainability & Inclusion
Recognizing the importance of economic stability that is sustainable, inclusive, nature-friendly, the Office of the Premier, in partnership with the Cayman Islands Government Office UK, has announced that Ralph Chami (financial economist) will visit the Cayman Islands starting May 1-5.
Assistant director at the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Chami and co-founder of Rebalance Earth.https://www.rebalance.earth/), advocates for integrating natural capital into our economy, bringing together investors, conservationists and policymakers.
3. Valuing biodiversity
Chami and his team are working together to create a new economic paradigm that is more nature-friendly and will bring sustainable and shared prosperity to all.
He will share insights and participate in events during his visit to Cayman Island. While visiting the Cayman islands, he will have the opportunity to experience the natural terrestrial and marine assets firsthand.
4. Protection of marine and terrestrial resources
Cabinet has helped to protect and purchase significant acreage in the Cayman Islands. This includes parcels in Salina Reserve, Sand Cay and Western Mangroves Area in Grand Cayman, Tarpon Lake, East Interior of Little Cayman and Hemmington Forest, Cayman Brac.
The new Crown protected areas have increased the total protected land area in the three Cayman islands to 7385.01 acre, or 11.33 percent of the terrestrial surface.
The public can help support these efforts by naming an area of islands that you feel is important and requesting that it be protected. The current nomination period runs until May 13. Please visit www.conservation.kyFor more information, please visit
5. Plant a tree
Plant a tree for the Jubilee to help Cayman introduce more native and endangered plants into its built communities. Please visit www.gov.ky/nationaltreeplantingFor more information, please visit
6. Clean up!
Participate in the Cayman Island Chamber of Commerce Island-Wide Earth Day Cleanup with thousands of volunteers.
Premier:
We can all work together to preserve existing habitats, plant endemic and native trees, and keep our islands clean.
Together, we can give back the planet that has given so much to us every single day. Things we all take for granted, like the air we breathe. The food we consume. The sea of palest yellow. The fresh, soft breezes. The verdant, fair trees.