Mission 1.5
Our future. Our Climate. Our fight for 1.5°C.
For the Caribbean, limiting global warming to 1.5°C is more than a climate target. It is critical to protecting our communities, livelihoods, ecosystems and future.
Although Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) contribute relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions, our region is already experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis, from stronger hurricanes and rising sea levels to threats to food security, livelihoods and biodiversity.
The call for “1.5°C to Stay Alive” has long been championed by Caribbean governments and civil society, helping to secure recognition of the 1.5°C goal under the Paris Agreement. Yet global action remains far off track.
Throughout 2026–2027, the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance (CCJA) are advancing a regional advocacy campaign to build awareness, amplify Caribbean voices and mobilise support for ambitious climate action, a phase-out of fossil fuels and a just and equitable energy transition.
Watch Mission 1.5: a three part documentary series
What does the 1.5°C goal mean for the Caribbean? What is at stake if the world fails to act? And how can we build a cleaner, fairer energy future? Produced by CANARI and CCJA, these three short films highlight the science, the lived realities of climate change and the urgent need for a just transition.
Part 1
Mission 1.5: What does the Science Say?
Highlights the latest climate science for the Caribbean region, how the extraction and burning of fossil fuels is a major driver of climate change and why it is critical to avoid global temperature increase beyond 1.5°C.
Trailer
Part 2
Mission 1.5: What is at Stake?
Highlights the range of impacts and injustices that are already being experienced due to the climate crisis, particularly among those on the frontlines, as we approach the 1.5°C threshold.
Trailer
Part 3
Mission 1.5: Towards a Just Transition
Calls for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally, and highlights the importance of phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to clean, renewable energy to support inclusive, resilient and sustainable development in Caribbean SIDS.
Trailer
From “1.5°C to Stay Alive” to global climate action
The 1.5°C goal did not emerge overnight. It is the result of decades of scientific research, diplomacy and persistent advocacy by small island developing states and climate-vulnerable countries demanding that the world take their survival seriously. Caribbean governments and civil society have played an important role in advancing this goal through the United Nations climate negotiations and beyond.
Copenhagen: 1.5°C to Stay Alive
Caribbean countries championed the call for a more ambitious global temperature limit, warning that a 2°C target would expose small island developing states to unacceptable risks.
Paris: A landmark global agreement
At COP21, countries adopted the Paris Agreement, committing to hold global warming well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. This was a major achievement for small island developing states and climate-vulnerable countries.
Glasgow: Keeping 1.5°C within reach
At COP26, governments reaffirmed the importance of limiting warming to 1.5°C and recognised the need for stronger emissions reductions. The Glasgow Climate Pact also included the first explicit COP decision calling for a phasedown of unabated coal power.
Dubai: A turning point on fossil fuels
At COP28, countries agreed for the first time to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner.
Belém: The implementation challenge
At COP30, countries advanced discussions on adaptation, finance and just transition, but failed to agree on a formal roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels, highlighting the gap between climate commitments and action.
Santa Marta: A new pathway for action
The first International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia, in April, provided a dedicated international forum to advance cooperation on a fair and managed transition beyond coal, oil and gas outside of the UN climate negotiations.
Antalya: Accelerating implementation
At COP31, countries will focus on a formal roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels, establishing a just transition mechanism, adaptation and loss and damage, and scaling up climate finance this November.
Explore more: The science, the commitments and the path forward
Keeping 1.5°C alive requires understanding both the science and the decisions shaping our climate future. Use these resources to learn more about global climate commitments, the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels and the opportunities to advance a just energy future.
Limiting overshoot: Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return
United Nations Environment spotlight report
The latest 2026 report examines the implications of entering an era of 1.5°C overshoot and the choices that remain available: https://www.unep.org/en/publications/report/limiting-overshoot-navigating-exceedance-15degc-and-pathways-towards-return
Understanding the science: Why every fraction of a degree matters
A landmark assessment of why limiting warming to 1.5°C matters, the risks of exceeding it and the transformations needed to cut emissions.
The most recent comprehensive IPCC synthesis of evidence on climate impacts, adaptation and pathways for limiting future warming.
An annual assessment of how far the world remains from meeting the Paris Agreement temperature goals.
Global commitments: From Paris to COP31
The international agreement to hold warming well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
See how countries negotiate climate action, track past decisions and follow developments leading into COP31 in 2026.
Moving beyond fossil fuels: A just transition
The growing global campaign for a treaty to end fossil fuel expansion, manage a fair phase-out and support a just transition to renewables.
Outcomes of the April 2026 conference in Santa Marta, Colombia on practical pathways for a just, orderly and equitable transition.
This will take place in the Pacific in July 2027 focusing on international cooperation and action rather than further diagnosis and dialogue: https://transitionawayconference.com/
Join the mission
Keeping 1.5°C alive and ensuring a just energy transition requires collective action. CANARI and CCJA welcome collaboration with civil society organisations, community groups, young people, researchers and other partners committed to advancing climate justice and promoting a transition away from fossil fuels towards clean, renewable energy and sustainable development in the Caribbean.