Caribbean
Mangroves: Green Guardians of the Caribbean’s Environment and Economy
In this article we will explore the relationship between economic development and environmental preservation in small island developing States, with a focus on protecting and preserving mangroves in the Caribbean. While economic growth often comes at the expense of fragile ecosystems, Britney Nurse of Trinidad and Tobago and Marco Lopez of Belize delve into the […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
Harmonizing people, coastlines, and nature-based solutions
By Marco Lopez Coastlines have served as the foundation for communities since the dawn of human history. Their proximity to the ocean has offered life-sustaining benefits, anchoring civilizations to these shores. In our current era of climate change, the urgency to safeguard these coastlines has intensified. Threats from flooding, storm surges, and hurricanes jeopardize the […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAction and Advocacy
Cocoa and Climate Change
A Bittersweet Connection By Britney Nurse The story highlights various aspects of climate justice, including the vulnerability of small-scale farmers, the historical context of the industry, the environmental impact, income volatility, resilience-building, fair pricing, and sustainable development. Cocoa, once known as the king of crops, has seen a steady decline over the decades. This delicious, […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
Protecting Earth’s Lungs
by Climate Spotlight Staff RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil. August 15, 2023 The Brazil National Institute of Space Research detected a 33.6% drop in deforestation in the Amazon during the first six months of President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva’s term. In July, the federal agency reported that the satellite data was gathered from a system […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAction and Advocacy
Community Solutions to Heatwave Vulnerable Grids
Recently, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a chilling declaration: “The era of boiling has begun.” In the past few months, the entire world has experienced unprecedented heat waves. This has resulted in increased demand for energy to keep cool, which in turn strains electric grids to their limit, creating a vicious cycle. This article discusses […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAction and Advocacy
Thirsting for Justice: The Water Crisis in the Caribbean
By Britney Nurse Imagine waking up, and your only water option is mud-infested This happens to be the reality of millions all around the world. Living on a picturesque tropical island surrounded by water, one can assume that this reality would never be true. Yet, water shortages are part of the daily reality for many […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
One woman’s mission to protect Caye Caulker’s mangroves
This story was written by Marco Lopez, a Belizean multimedia journalist. It was published with the generous support of the Caribbean Climate Justice Journalism Fellowship, a joint venture between Climate Tracker and Open Society Foundations. On the Belizean island of Caye Caulker, Allison Ifield is affectionately called “Mangrove Mama” due to her connection with mangroves and unrelenting […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAction and Advocacy
What is Climate Justice?
Undoubtedly, the industrialization of the Global North is directly responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) contributing to climate change today. Over the past two centuries, those countries created and mastered systems that still continue to control the world. Those systems have not only perpetuated the historical dehumanization of millions of people but […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
The Global South’s Climate Struggle
By Marco Lopez Many countries in the Global South have taken meaningful steps to meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement. These nations, which oftentimes lack the finance needed for national development – (and much less to implement climate adaptation and mitigation measures) – have proven to be leaders in the fight against climate change. […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
Understanding Tomorrow’s World: Climate Change Simplified
By Marco Lopez Put simply, climate change is about long-lasting changes in average weather conditions that can be noticed all over the globe. These alterations include shifts in temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns and persist for an extended period, usually decades or even longer. This reality makes the topic of climate change incredibly crucial to […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAction and Advocacy
Carbon footprint fraud?
How big oil shift global focus on CO2 emission from fossil fuel producers to Jane and John Public by Marco Lopez The carbon footprint of a homeless person in the United States is on average 8.5 tons of CO2 per year, a 2008 study from a research class at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) […]
Climate Spotlight Staff