The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute convened its regional Partners Forum on climate justice on January 19 and 20 in Barbados.
The Forum brought together more than 85 participants, including members of the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance, frontline communities, climate defenders and advocates. Leaders of regional technical agencies, experts in climate finance and law, media representatives, development partners and philanthropic organisations also attended.
Discussions focused on strategies to strengthen collaboration to address climate change as a human rights issue in the Caribbean. Sessions examined lived experiences of climate impacts at the community level, recent global advisory opinions on climate justice, implications for the Caribbean legal context and approaches to climate finance.
In opening remarks, Chair Cletus Springer said climate change must be addressed through equity and fairness, including responsibility for harm, distribution of benefits and impacts on human rights. He said climate justice must address power imbalances and marginalisation.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights Professor Elisa Morgera said the climate crisis affects economic, social, civil and political rights. She warned that responses that ignore human rights may leave vulnerable groups behind.
Climate defender Christine Samwaroo of the Breadfruit Collective in Guyana said climate justice must centre communities and protect marginalised people.
Case studies highlighted impacts on Indigenous people, youth, women, gender-diverse groups and local communities, including effects on culture, food systems, livelihoods and participation in governance.
Vice Chair Carole Excell, Environmental Defenders Rapporteur for the Escazú Agreement, said climate justice requires visibility and protection for community voices.
President Winston Anderson of the Caribbean Court of Justice addressed legal avenues for climate justice, noting the role of recent advisory opinions from global courts.
Discussions on climate finance called for reform of funding systems and partnerships with civil society and community organisations.
