From warmer temperatures and rising sea levels to increased hurricane intensity and unpredictable, extreme weather events – the countries of the Caribbean region are amongst the world’s most vulnerable to the worst impacts of climate change. For these countries, building resilience is not an option, but an urgent priority. The energy transition – reducing reliance on environmentally harmful, price-volatile, fossil fuels to power the region, and increasing renewable energy resources – is an essential part of securing a sustainable, resilient future for these nations, however change, so far, has been slow in pace and small in scale.
Caribbean journalists have an important role to play in tracking energy transition developments across the region, keeping the public informed, and holding decision-makers to account, however, there are still critical gaps in media coverage and public awareness, despite the urgency of the Caribbean’s need to embrace an energy transition.
Climate Tracker Caribbean has launched a 2-part initiative to support Caribbean journalists. As part of this program, 40 journalists from Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago have been provided the opportunity to participate in the innovative and hands-on Caribbean Energy Transition Workshop, which features regional and global experts in energy transition, along with award-winning Caribbean journalists.