St Lucia, March 27 (IPS) – As the world moves closer to breaking major climate thresholds, Caribbean policymakers, scientists and civil society leaders gathered in St Lucia this month to coordinate the region’s position ahead of a landmark global meeting on the transition away from fossil fuels.
The two-day conference, held on March 2-3, brought together civil society representatives and government officials. fossil fuel treaty Initiative to discuss the upcoming priorities of the Caribbean First international conference on phasing out fossil fuels in Colombia.
The conference, taking place in Santa Marta in late April and co-hosted by Colombia, the Netherlands and Tuvalu, is expected to examine strategies for an integrated global transition away from fossil fuels, including financing, governance and legal structures.
For Caribbean countries grappling with climate impacts, the discussions are far from theoretical.
“Our vulnerability to climate impacts is grave,” CARICOM Climate Envoy Dr. James Fletcher said in opening remarks to the gathering. “Transition is both an existential necessity and a structural change challenge.”
sounding the field
The Saint Lucia meeting was structured over two days: the first dedicated to civil society organizations and the second dedicated to government technical officials.
Organizers said the goal was to ensure that both groups entered the Santa Marta conference with clear priorities and a coordinated regional position.
The Caribbean has historically played a large role in global climate diplomacy. Despite contributing only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, small island states played a key role in achieving the 1.5°C temperature target under the landmark Paris Agreement.
Yet that goal now appears more fragile.
“We will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius – at least temporarily,” Fletcher told participants. “The question we now have to grapple with is how long and how much.”
Scientists warn that without deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the risk of global warming could increase will exceed 2°C by the end of the century. For low-lying island states, that difference could mean the loss of ecosystems, infrastructure and territory.
A push for global coordination
The main focus of the discussion was the proposal for a global fossil fuel treaty. It is an idea that is gaining popularity among a coalition of countries and civil society organizations.
The treaty proposal seeks to create an international framework that would manage the decline in fossil fuel production in a coordinated and equitable manner.
“This proposal came to the attention of the world because many civil society organizations realized that simply saying ‘end fossil fuels’ was not enough,” said Alex Rafalowicz, executive director of the International Monetary Fund. Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative.
“If we really want to address the fossil fuel question, we have to move beyond the rhetoric and get into the details,” he said. “Those details require coordination and cooperation between countries.”
Eighteen countries are currently participating in discussions on the idea, including several small island states such as Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The science behind immediacy
scientific evidence The proposal presented at the St. Lucia meeting reinforced the sense of urgency.
Professor Taneshia Stephenson, a climate scientist at the University of the West Indies, warned that the world is already experiencing “widespread, unprecedented, rapid and intense climate change”.
He told the convener that unless there are “immediate, rapid and sustained large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions”, the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius will be out of reach.
He said the Caribbean faces climate risks, stronger storms, rising sea levels and more severe droughts, which threaten key sectors such as tourism, agriculture and water security.
“How does a small island really prepare for a Category 5 hurricane of the intensity and magnitude that we’re seeing now?” he asked.
Many participants argued that the answer partly lies in addressing the root cause of climate change, that is, the continued expansion and use of fossil fuels.
Balancing transition and reality
Despite the urgency, transitioning away from fossil fuels presents complex challenges for the Caribbean.
Many countries rely heavily on imported oil and gas for power generation, transportation, and industry. Others depend on fossil fuel-related revenues.
At the same time, the region faces chronic fiscal constraints and rising debt levels, which are often worsened by frequent climate disasters.
“Many of our countries are carrying huge debt burdens,” Fletcher said. “Why? Because they have to constantly borrow money to recover from the last extreme weather event.”
This financial pressure complicates the transition to renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure.
To address this, discussions during the session of government officials explored potential financing mechanisms linked to the fossil fuel treaty, including proposals for a climate-related debt settlement facility and an international transition fund.
Advocates argue that such mechanisms could help ensure that poorer and more vulnerable countries are not left behind as the world moves toward cleaner energy systems.
Civil society demands
The first day of the Saint Lucia conference focused on civil society perspectives, including community organizations and environmental groups from across the Caribbean.
Participants worked in groups to identify priorities and “red lines” for the region before the Santa Marta meeting.
Among the topics raised were the need for stronger international commitments to phase out fossil fuel production, more financial support for climate-sensitive countries, and protections for workers and communities affected by the energy transition.
Organizers also discussed plans to mobilize civil society around the Santa Marta conference, including a people’s summit aimed at amplifying grassroots voices.
a diplomatic opening
While the Santa Marta conference is not formally part of the UN climate talks, many observers see it as an important diplomatic opportunity.
Fletcher described it as a “space outside the formal framework” of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to explore new governance options and political alignment.
Its importance was underlined when it was referenced during the closing session of the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil.
For the Caribbean, it is essential to formulate a coordinated position, Fletcher said.
“Caribbean leadership is most effective when it is coordinated – when we move forward as a bloc,” he told participants.
punching above their weight
Small island states have long leveraged their moral authority in climate negotiations, drawing attention to the disproportionate impacts they face despite contributing little to global emissions.
Fletcher reminded the audience that Caribbean countries helped achieve the 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement and have been at the forefront of campaigns on climate justice, loss and damage financing and reform of the global financial system.
“We don’t lead because we’re powerful,” he said. “We lead because we’re principled. We lead because we’re credible.”
But leadership must be combined with strategy and unity, he said.
As delegates left the St. Lucia meeting, the message was clear: the Santa Marta conference could represent an important step toward building global momentum for a managed phase-out of fossil fuels.
However, for the Caribbean, the stakes could hardly be higher.
“The Caribbean has often been the moral compass of global climate diplomacy,” Fletcher said. “We must continue to lead strategically, consistently and decisively.”
© Inter Press Service (20260327073930) – All rights reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service
