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Caribbean Youth speak in Climate Justice Series ahead of COP29

07 October 2024

Youth-led series of "Conversations on Migration in the Caribbean" Goes Live: Discusses Human Mobility and Justice in a Changing Climate

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Caribbean Office announces the launch of a Climate Justice Series as part of its ongoing "Conversations on Migration in the Caribbean". The Climate Justice series will provide a platform for young Caribbean leaders and activists to make their voices heard on the topic of Human Mobility and Climate Justice in this era of changing climatic conditions, disproportionately affecting the Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean.

The four episodes, airing live online, from October 7 to October 10, 2024, will bring together youth activists from across the Caribbean to engage in dynamic conversations about human mobility in a changing climate, ahead of the upcoming COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The countries represented include Barbados, The Bahamas, Dominica, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, and Suriname. The Climate Action division of IOM Headquarters is also supporting two of the youth panelists to attend the COP from 11-22 November in Baku.

According to IOM's Coordinator for the Caribbean, Patrice Quesada:

"Climate migration is a reality for the Caribbean, we are on the frontline. The impacts of climate change, disasters and environmental degradation are increasingly causing sudden displacement of individuals and entire communities, especially among vulnerable populations. Most recently we have seen the impacts of Hurricane Beryl in the Grenadine islands and Jamaica, as well as the coastlines of Barbados, Dominica, and St Lucia.

These impacts are influencing migration patterns within, from, to, and between Caribbean countries. This is also exerting tremendous financial pressure on these small states, with impacts times exceeding by far entire annual national budgets.

For COP29, IOM will be urging leaders and the international community to take concrete actions that protect and support those who want to stay, those on the move, and those needing or wanting to move."

Hosted by popular media personality Jael Joseph, the series will engage activists and influencers, to delve into the urgent challenges posed by natural hazards such as hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and rising sea levels, and the critical role of climate justice in addressing these crises.

Each episode will highlight the unique experiences of youth, and of Caribbean communities, as it relates to climate change, migration, climate displacement and the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations. The series will give a platform to the perspectives and lived experiences of often marginalized groups such as youth, people with disabilities, gender minorities, and indigenous communities. The discussions will emphasize the necessity of climate justice, advocating for inclusive, people-centered solutions and exploring how regional and international collaboration can address these growing challenges.

As the world prepares for COP29 in November, this timely series will amplify voices from the Caribbean, of countries and communities most affected by climate change, providing a platform for urgent calls to action. Each episode will be available across social media platforms, including those of the host and IOM Caribbean, ensuring broad reach and engagement with a global audience.