Climate Crisis: A Call to Action for the Caribbean

The Time for Pleading Has Passed

It has long been evident that the world’s wealthiest nations, especially those responsible for the lion’s share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, care little about small states’ existential threats.

For the Caribbean, the time for pleading has passed. Collective action must define the region’s response to the climate crisis.

A Rare Display of Frankness

Caribbean leaders in all sectors – government, business, and worker representatives – should pay close attention to a rare display of frankness on this urgent matter by Angela Merkel, the respected former Chancellor of Germany. In her memoir, Freedom, she presents a sobering assessment of global failure on climate action.

She admits that GHG-emitting countries’ measures to combat climate change are “not good enough to save the world.” Worse, she confesses that the problem has been known for years and failed to inspire the necessary action in Germany or other wealthy nations. Her haunting question lingers: “Are we humans truly willing and able to act on the warnings of credible experts to make necessary, timely decisions for our survival?”

She concludes that, to date, there is no evidence of this, either in Germany or the world at large, and laments that “This knowledge weighs heavily on all of us, myself included.”

The Cost of Delay

This sobering reality demands a shift in strategy for the Caribbean. Waiting for wealthy nations to act out of conscience or moral obligation is futile.

The region’s governments, private sectors, trade unions, and civil society organizations must seize the initiative to secure their future. The significant emitters are constrained by the large and politically influential fossil fuel producers, or they continue their emissions to maintain competition with rival nations.

Small States Bear No Blame

Small states can no longer wait to take action, or they will become spectators at their own funerals. Hurricanes are becoming more frequent and severe, wiping out GDP annually and plunging countries deeper into unsustainable debt as they rebuild. Insurance premiums have skyrocketed, becoming unaffordable for many, while small and medium-sized businesses—once the lifeblood of local economies—are often not rebuilt.

Beyond extreme weather events, rising sea levels, projected to increase by up to 1.4 meters by 2100, threaten to submerge low-lying islands and obliterate critical infrastructure. Exacerbating these changes, coastal erosion undermines the tourism industry, the economic backbone of many Caribbean states.

Insufficiency of Funds

Small states’ representatives have routinely praised inadequate results. They should stop letting the big emitters cover up their gross neglect of damaging actions.

While establishing the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) under the UNFCCC is a significant step forward, its financial inadequacy is sobering. Initial pledges amount to approximately $700 million, which falls drastically short of the trillions required to address global climate-induced loss and damage effectively. Without a substantial increase in funding commitments, the LDF is little more than a symbolic gesture rather than a practical solution. We must say so – loudly.

Regional Resilience: A Necessity, Not an Option

Faced with these challenges, the Caribbean must take bold, unified action to build resilience at home and robustly advocate for justice globally, such as:

Building Resilience: Strengthening and enforcing national building codes is non-negotiable. Private-sector compliance should be incentivized through tax breaks or subsidies for climate-resilient construction, while non-compliance must be met with stiff penalties. Public infrastructure must be designed and upgraded to withstand extreme weather, prioritizing long-term durability over short-term cost savings.

Regional Collaboration: Caribbean nations must accelerate efforts to coordinate disaster preparedness, renewable energy projects, and climate adaptation strategies.

Advancing Climate Justice: Legal mechanisms are a pathway to accountability. The ITLOS advisory opinion obtained by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS) is a milestone. The strong submissions made to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion on climate obligations are another critical step. However, these efforts must move beyond opinions to enforceable actions.

Time to Act

Angela Merkel’s words remind us that even the most concerned leaders in wealthy nations are constrained by political survival. Small states, therefore, must chart their course collectively.

In 2025, climate change and global warming must sit at the top of every small state’s domestic and international agenda. The Caribbean’s leaders must focus on pragmatic, actionable solutions while continuing to demand justice from those most responsible for the crisis.

Failure to act decisively risks leaving future generations to face an unthinkable catastrophe—and to wonder, “What in hell were they thinking?”

Conclusion

The Caribbean must take bold action to secure its future and demand justice from those responsible for the climate crisis. The region must build resilience at home and advocate for justice globally. The time for pleading has passed; it is time for collective action.

FAQs

Q: What is the significance of Angela Merkel’s words on climate action?

A: Merkel’s words highlight the global failure to address climate change and the need for urgent action.

Q: What is the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF), and why is it insufficient?

A: The LDF is a fund established under the UNFCCC to address global climate-induced loss and damage. Its initial pledges are insufficient, falling short of the trillions required to address the crisis effectively.

Q: What are the implications of the LDF being dominated by loans rather than grants?

A: If loans dominate, borrowing from the LDF will exacerbate many Caribbean countries’ already overwhelming debt burdens, making it unsustainable.

Q: What is the importance of regional collaboration in addressing the climate crisis?

A: Regional collaboration is crucial in coordinating disaster preparedness, renewable energy projects, and climate adaptation strategies to build resilience and advocate for justice globally.