A Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance for advocacy, action and accountability

The climate emergency poses a significant threat to Caribbean people, our economy and way of life and compounds threats from biodiversity loss and uneven development. Yet, the most vulnerable and marginalised groups continue to be excluded from decision-making, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, rural poor and Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. These groups lack a voice in advocating for more ambitious and inclusive climate action at the national, regional and international levels.

Under the “Amplifying local voices for a just and resilient COVID-19 recovery” project from 2020-2023, the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance was established to amplify the voices of the most vulnerable and influence policy and practice. The alliance also developed the Caribbean Climate Justice and Resilience Agenda and initiated research and advocacy actions. Building upon these achievements, CANARI is implementing a second phase of work.

About the Project

The project, “A Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance for Advocacy, Action and Accountability”, is focused on enhancing mechanisms for advocacy, action and accountability through the work of the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance that amplify the voices of the most vulnerable in calling for a pro-poor, just, inclusive, environmentally sustainable and climate resilient approach to development in the Caribbean.

How will this project benefit the Caribbean region?

• The Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance will be comprised of at least 30 civil society organisations (CSOs), including community-based organisations, local resource users and other right holders, and other non-state actors and key champions and activists from the target countries and strengthened to work at the national and local levels on collective advocacy.

• The Caribbean Climate Justice and Resilience Agenda will be jointly implemented by CSOs and other non-state actors to amplify local voices and priorities at the regional and global levels for climate, environmental and social justice as part of transformative development.

• Collective advocacy campaigns will be developed and implemented by and for CSOs and local rights holders encompassing practical actions in at least four target countries expressing their needs and priorities for climate justice and a pro-poor, inclusive, environmentally sustainable and climate resilient approach to development in the Caribbean.

• Knowledge exchange, learning and partnerships will be enhanced among civil society, the public and private sector and funders to influence policy and practice for climate justice and transformative development across the target countries.

• CANARI will be strengthened to play an effective role through convening, facilitating, supporting and leading Caribbean climate justice efforts.

What have we achieved so far?

• Over 20 members of the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance engaged in the Caribbean Civil Society Summit and 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in May 2024 in Antigua and Barbuda, sharing their perspectives and priorities and advocating for civil society’s role in taking forward the new 10-year SIDS agenda. For more info on SIDS4 work, see here.

• An online pledging platform for the Caribbean Climate Justice and Resilience Agenda was launched at a side event at SIDS4 to track progress on the eight priority areas in the Agenda, and to shine a spotlight on the innovative, and often overlooked, efforts to promote climate justice in the region by civil society as well as the public and private sector.

• The inaugural Climate Justice Camp: Caribbean was held in March 2024, with engagement from the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance and CANARI. The Camp brought together 120 climate justice activists from 25 Caribbean islands, including the English, Spanish, French and Dutch speaking Caribbean. They engaged in learning in 4 tracks: Adaptation and Resilience, Energy Transition, Gender and Climate, and Marine Conservation. The Camp also included culture sharing, storytelling and artivism, centering the voices of the most marginalised and those on the frontlines.

• CANARI and several members of the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance attended COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, calling for urgent climate action and the need to ensure just, gender-responsive and inclusive outcomes.

• Five organisations, including grassroots, regional civil society organisations, and activists were awarded small grants by CANARI to promote climate justice under the Caribbean Sea Innovation Fund’s Climate Action Facility. These climate justice-focused grant projects were implemented between August 2023 and March 2024.

Recent project news and information

• Press release: Caribbean civil society calls for transformative development at SIDS4

• CANARI is proud to be a supporting partner of the first-ever Climate Justice Camp in the Caribbean, March 28-31, hosted by Roots People in Sint Maarten

• “#COP28 Global Bites” interview with Dr. Ainka Granderson, CANARI’s Senior Technical Officer

• COP28 side event, hosted by CANARI and the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance, on launch of the Caribbean Climate Justice and Resilience Agenda

• News feature in Trinidad Guardian and CNC3 highlighting launch of the Caribbean Climate Justice and Resilience Agenda and its 8 priorities for action by 2030

• Press release: CANARI supports civil society-led advocacy actions for climate justice in the Caribbean

• Press release: Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance lays out priorities for COP28 for climate justice and resilience

Project-related communications

Caribbean Climate Justice and Resilience Agenda 2023-2030

More information about this project

Contact Dr. Ainka Granderson, Resilience Programme Manager, at ainka@canari.org

Related projects and programmes

• Amplifying local voices for a just and climate resilient COVID-19 recovery project
• Equity and Justice Programme
• Resilience Programme