In Apia like in St John’s and New York, preparation meetings bringing together island stakeholders from around the world discussed the future of their communities. These events, held ahead of the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in Antigua & Barbuda, all struck similar chords. “We seek not charity but equity and justice in addressing a crisis we did little to create,” noted Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu ahead of the summit.
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At SIDS4, the 24-year-old Barbadian told attendees of the ‘amplifying action in the call for climate justice’ side event, “When we look at the Antigua and Barbuda agenda for SIDS that is being implemented, we are documenting all these outcomes that we wish to see, but where is the language of future generations? At the end of the day there is no climate justice without ensuring the protection of a safe environment for future generations to come. We need to ensure that there is a strengthening of our social safety net as a buffer for vulnerable people.”
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Island Innovation is no stranger to the excellence of Caribbean youth, having witnessed first-hand how keen they are to develop workable solutions for their communities. In 2023, our organisation launched the Caribbean Climate Justice Leaders Academy (CCJLA), which saw over 500 applicants vie to join a 10-week course that built their knowledge on environmental sustainability, climate resilience, international policies, and how they impact the Caribbean. The first cohort was composed of 35 participants hailing from every CARICOM nation.