St Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, Dr Joyelle Clarke, says the Caribbean entered COP30 with a clear-eyed understanding of the uphill struggle ahead. But she said they also come with equal determination to push for outcomes that reflect the region’s realities.
Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Clarke described the COP process as “one you have to be resolute about”, a space where expectations must be tempered and persistence becomes strategy.
“You know going in that your intentions won’t be fulfilled in the first week,” she said, “but this year, coming out of the Leaders’ Summit, there’s strong momentum, especially from developing countries, toward firmer commitments.”
For Caricom, she emphasised, the message remains unchanged: Small Island Developing States (SIDS) must continue to be recognised for their special circumstances, and access to climate finance must be grounded in that recognition. “We’re very clear that our financing must reflect our vulnerabilities,” Clarke said. “It must be accessible, and it must be based on the special circumstances of SIDS.”
At COP30, she believes the right issues have made it onto the agenda. Caricom and the Alliance of Small Island States, she explained, have remained unwavering on two major pillars: meeting the US$1.3 trillion climate finance floor and ensuring that developing nations can access funds as grants rather than loans. “We expect some concessional financing,” she noted, “but our priority is grant-based access. That’s what fairness looks like.”
Energy transition is another critical area. Clarke underscored that Caribbean nations face widely varying circumstances, from fossil fuel producers like Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago to countries such as Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis with significant geothermal potential. That diversity shapes the region’s negotiating stance. “When we transition because of the 1.5°C target, it must be equitable; it must be inclusive,” she said. “Energy security means different things to different populations. For governments, it’s about sovereignty; for homeowners, it’s the cost of electricity; for political leaders, it’s ensuring reliability.”
Ultimately, she stressed, renewable energy is the Caribbean’s clearest path to true energy security and sovereignty. But regional collaboration alone cannot deliver the transition. Developed nations, which bear responsibility as the largest emitters, must honour their financial and technological commitments. “We cannot make the transition without their support,” she said.
“Polluters must contribute to the cost of transition for the most vulnerable countries.”
That support extends beyond money. Clarke pointed to capacity building, technology transfer, grid digitisation, and direct investments in distributed solar as essential components. “We need the means to solarise homes, schools, and community centres,” she explained. “Even with our ambition, even with our frameworks, even with the backing of the Caribbean Development Bank, we won’t get far without the partnership of developed nations.”
Still, there have been breakthroughs. Clarke highlighted the historic November 10 announcement confirming that vulnerable countries can apply to the Loss and Damage Fund, with assurances that disbursements will be possible by the end of 2026. “That tells us they heard our voices,” she said. “It shows that advocacy from Caricom and other SIDS is making new financing pots available.”
As COP30 unfolds, Clarke’s message is consistent: the Caribbean knows what it needs, it knows what it’s fighting for, and it intends to leave with commitments that match the urgency of its reality.
