Caricom Needs To Prove It Cares.
Whilst there are several regional blocs and groups within the Caribbean. For a certain part of the Caribbean, Caricom is the main one. To go further, the name Caricom itself, literally speaks to its responsibility for addressing issues of regional concern.
Post Hurricane Melissa. It’s hard to see that the Caribbean has any concern that trumps that of environmental concerns, i.e. climate change.
Given the fact that the Caribbean and the member states that make up Caricom are developing countries. Caricom at the very least needs to be a platform that loudly proclaims the need for all to do their part in fighting climate change. Given location and the current trajectory of hurricanes in 2025. Caricom is in an inescapable position. Either Caricom can, (more) loudly and effectively begin to fight the war on climate change now. Or, certain unfortunate Caricom member states will potentially find themselves having to loudly lament the destruction experienced, post natural disaster.
Thankfully Jamaica, in addition to being the worst hit Caribbean country by Hurricane Melissa. May also have been the best financially prepared country in Caricom for Hurricane Melissa. Dominica, post Hurricane Maria, has a number of Hurricane proof properties. However, for much, if not the rest of the Caribbean, a Category 5 Hurricane, would spell disaster.
In fact, the only reason why Jamaica had financial preparations in place, is Jamaica’s narrow escape of Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Now, post Hurricane Melissa, the rest of the Caribbean is in the same position that Jamaica was. Hurricane Melissa is Caricom’s wake up call to begin fighting and preparations against climate change now. Additionally, Caricom citizens need to do their part too, to ensure that national governments within Caricom are proactively taking steps to achieve progress against climate change.
The advantage of Caricom’s role in the fight against climate change is its membership. Caricom member states can debate and then agree on changes that can be applied throughout Caricom. The reach that Caricom has, means that it has the potential to quickly deal climate change a knockout blow. Which is in stark contrast to the piecemeal progress that would take place on a country by country basis.
What Caricom Can Do To Decrease Climate Change.
Caricom has to commit to making climate change a top priority. So far, Mia Mottley seems to be the lonely, or only, voice that can be heard emphasizing the importance of sustainable development. (Development that is in harmony with the environment). As 2025 winds down, more Caricom leaders and citizens need to be talking about climate change.
With the hope being that talks can lead to agreement, which in turn, leads to widespread and effective action, against climate change.
Thankfully, Mia Mottley has been backing up her rhetoric on climate change with action. With Mia Barbados having committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Other steps include a ban on single use plastic bags, a utilisation of electromobility in public transport and a debt writeoff of (150 million US Dollars in value) that served to finance measures taken to boost environmental sustainability in Barbados.
Post Hurricane Maria, Dominica has also made exceptional strides, in the fight against climate change. However, what would be ideal at the regional level, is a commitment from all its members, on a range of environmental issues. With the focus being on achieving a united front and achievement by all member states. This commitment, would be less about achieving deep change at once and more about achieving widespread change through full participation. In other words, figuring out what basic goals are realistic across the region and then ensuring these goals are realised, should be the aim.
Moreover, the Caribbean Community needs to effectively delegate and fight climate change by ensuring that environmental policy at the national level features in the electoral process throughout the region. This simple step would help ensure that the region successfully utilizes the human capital available to it, without needing to exhaust its own resources. By making sure that climate change is a part of political agendas from day one. Which, subsequently makes progress, far more easier.
Similarly, a full blown agenda for what member states want to see from its citizens needs to be created. The Caribbean Community must do more to make use of the power available to it via its citizens. One of the major ways we can all fight climate change is by embracing Veganism or at least, eating less meat and dairy products. Currently, discourse on climate change in the Caribbean is far too quiet. Especially, considering the fact that the Caribbean is clearly positioned to be on the receiving end of disasters caused by climate change. If nothing else, as a bare minimum, Caricom needs to get conversations flowing on how environmentally sustainable development can be improved.
Membership within the Caribbean Community has to come with a mandatory commitment to the environment. Otherwise, the Caribbean Community would be guilty of allowing the insecurity, expenses and vulnerability that comes from having to rebuild post natural disaster, to get the better of the Caribbean. As mentioned in a previous article, wealth without health is nonsensical. Similarly, it would make no sense for the Caribbean to pursue prosperity, only to then have all of these gains wiped out by a natural disaster.
The Caribbean needs both prosperity and a healthy climate/planet to enjoy that prosperity on. With that being said, climate change is definitely the main purpose for Caricom’s existence. There is no other priority more relevant to the Caribbean Community’s existence, than climate change.
Haiti’s welfare and regional travel, (being economical and efficient) are almost certainly the other main reasons for Caricom’s existence. However, Caricom’s fight to achieve environmentally sustainable economic development. At least to a certain extent, is capable of impacting all three of the priorities mentioned above, at once. People all over the world, desire to have an opportunity, to have an impact.
Caricom, to paraphrase comments made Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has no need to look for how to have an impact on the Caribbean or the World. On the contrary, Caricom has had this opportunity thrust on it. Hopefully, post Hurricane Melissa, Caricom can prove itself up to answering the call.
