Eastern Caribbean Human Mobility caused by Climate Change

Global warming is the leading cause and effect of the Eastern Caribbean Human Mobility caused by Climate Change. Human mobility caused by Climate Change happens in numerous ways: Rising Sea Levels, More frequent intense storms, prolonged droughts and extreme weather events that exacerbate existing environmental challenges leading to displacement and forced migration. Within the OECS Economic Union, a citizen of the Protocol Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have the right to Hassle-Free travel to any of the islands with a government ID like a driver license, national identification card and voter card. OECS Citizens also have the right for them and their family to live indefinitely upon arrival at any of these member states. Relating this to climate change and human mobility in the Eastern Caribbean highlights the challenges and opportunities for policymakers to address this issue.

Rising sea levels are one of the most significant impacts of climate change on human mobility in the Eastern Caribbean. The region is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise due to its low-lying coastal areas and small island states. According to the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, sea levels could rise by up to 1.5 meters by the end of the century, displacing millions of people in the region. People would relocate to safer communities, leading to a massive population movement to the inner part of the island.

Extreme weather events are estimated to increase human mobility in the Eastern Caribbean. The region is already prone to hurricanes, with the 2017 hurricane season being one of the most destructive on record. Climate change has a projection to increase the frequency and intensity of storms, leading to more frequent evacuations, displacement, and migration. Prolonged droughts and heat waves could also lead to internal migration as people move from areas with water shortages to more abundant ones.

The Caribbean has felt the impact of climate change on human mobility in the Eastern Caribbean, with numerous instances of displacement and forced migration due to extreme weather events. In 2019, for example, Hurricane Dorian displaced thousands of people in the Bahamas, leading to a climate-related refugee crisis in the Caribbean. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic with climate change led to a significant decline in international migration in the region.

Despite these challenges, there are also opportunities for policymakers to address the issue of climate change and human mobility in the Eastern Caribbean. Incorporating climate change considerations into development planning is necessary to protect vulnerable populations from displacement and migration. The incorporation includes improving infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, promoting sustainable agriculture practices, and investing in renewable energy.

Given the significant impact of climate change on human mobility in the Eastern Caribbean, policymakers must prioritize proactive strategies to address this issue. By addressing the root causes of climate change and building more resilient communities, the Eastern Caribbean can help mitigate the impacts of climate change on human mobility and ensure the protection of vulnerable populations from displacement and migration.

To address these challenges, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in 2017, launched the Global Programme “Sustainable Management of Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change” (GP HMCCC), implemented in the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Philippines. The GP HMCCC aims to improve applied knowledge relating to the sustainable management of human mobility in the context of climate change in the Caribbean, the Pacific region, the Philippines, Germany and global social, economic and cultural development activities. 

On 12th March 2021, OECS in Collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and MeCurator Art Gallery, successfully launched an exciting OECS Virtual Art Exhibition entitled "Climate Change: An Eastern Caribbean Journey." The exhibition showcases a wide variety of photos focusing on Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change (HMCCC) from a Photo Contest organised by the OECS with the kind support of GIZ.  

The Exhibition consist of Photos from the region, both amateurs and professionals that explore the impact of Climate Change on the lives of Caribbean People. The competition was eventually won by talented Yuri A. Jones from the Commonwealth of Dominica. However, it turned out to be more than a photo competition and evolved into Virtual Art Exhibition.