Caribbean Nations Mobilize for Systemic Climate Action at Global Fossil Fuel Transition Summit
Original framing: “Caribbean Leaders and Civil Society Prepare for Global Push on Fossil Fuel Phase-Out” — Global Issues
The Caribbean’s current energy dependence on fossil fuels is a legacy of colonial resource extraction and post-independence economic structures. Historical patterns of external control over energy infrastructure continue to shape the region’s vulnerability to climate and market shocks.
The Caribbean summit represents a pivotal moment in the region’s climate journey, but its success hinges on addressing the deep structural roots of energy dependence and climate vulnerability.
By integrating Indigenous and local knowledge, leveraging historical insights into colonial resource extraction, and advocating for climate justice through reparations and regional solidarity, the Caribbean can model a systemic transition that is both just and sustainable. Cross-cultural collaboration with other vulnerable regions, such as the Pacific Islands, can further strengthen this approach. The summit must move beyond symbolic gestures and secure concrete commitments from global powers to support a people-centered, energy-independent future for the region.