Caribbean journalists meet to strengthen climate reporting

2026-03-22 - 00:25

Media practitioners from across the Caribbean Community gathered for a workshop titled “Reporting Climate Impacts in a Climate Justice Context” last Wednesday. The event was hosted by the Media Institute of the Caribbean and Climate Analytics Caribbean. Journalists, editors, content creators, and students participated both in person and online. The sessions focused on strengthening reporting capacity with emphasis on accuracy, context, and justice frameworks. Dr James Fletcher, Caricom Climate Envoy, highlighted the severity of climate impacts in his homeland of St Lucia. He explained that the country is importing water from Dominica due to drought conditions. He noted that farmers are abandoning crops, schools are closing, and residents are experiencing heat-related illnesses. He warned that stronger hurricanes and rising sea levels are threatening island communities. Fletcher emphasised the role of journalists in shaping public understanding of climate change. He recalled his leadership in the “1.5 To Stay Alive” campaign and his involvement in the Paris Agreement negotiations. Global data presented at the workshop confirmed that 2015 to 2024 was the hottest decade in recorded history. The year 2024 was the hottest year on record and the first to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Experts explained that climate impacts are driving debt cycles in the region. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 cost Grenada 203 per cent of its GDP. Hurricane Irma in 2017 cost the British Virgin Islands 309 per cent of its GDP. Presentations covered topics including Just Transition, Loss and Damage, Adaptation, and Nationally Determined Contributions. Carlon Mendoza, Climate Analytics Caribbean Climate Policy Advisor – Climate Justice, stated that the Caribbean must ensure resilience and sustainability in its transition to greener economies. He stressed that climate finance and disaster recovery are justice issues, and the region should not bear the cost of a crisis it did not cause. Journalist Wesley Gibbings, who is also vice president of the Media Institute of the Caribbean, guided participants on identifying climate angles in reporting. He explained how climate change intersects with politics, economics, health, culture, and crime. Gibbings urged journalists to reframe climate impacts within social justice and responsibility. The workshop concluded with a call for coordinated regional action and strengthened media engagement to address the escalating climate crisis. – Ryan Bachoo