The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance are backing climate justice advocacy led by six civil society organisations through small grants awarded for 2026-2027 under the Caribbean Sea Innovation Fund's Climate Action Facility.
The grants are enabling grassroots and national civil society organisations to roll out advocacy projects across several Caribbean countries. Recipients include the Alliance for Rural Communities of Trinidad and Tobago, Equals Inc., Island City Lab, the Jamaica Environment Trust, The Crystal Clear Initiative for Trinidad and Tobago, and The University of the West Indies Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies along with its Voices from the Shore Theatre Collective.
The advocacy initiatives span a wide range of climate justice priorities, from advancing climate litigation to empowering and recognising the role of women in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. Several projects will document the impacts of Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa and advocate for equitable climate resilience solutions across the region.
Developing practical tools to support inclusive emergency shelter access for vulnerable and marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities and LGBTQ+ persons, is also a priority under the programme. Other work will focus on raising public awareness of human rights and enhancing citizen participation in climate and environmental decision-making and governance across the Caribbean.
These practical advocacy actions are intended to advance the work of the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance, which brings together more than 80 civil society organisations, grassroots activists, academics, creatives, the media and other non-state actors across the region. The Alliance amplifies voices from the frontlines of the climate crisis and works to enhance their influence on policy and practice.
The Alliance is co-chaired and convened by CANARI. Its work centres on implementing the Caribbean Climate Justice and Resilience Agenda 2023-2030, which sets out priority needs and actions for promoting climate justice and building local resilience.
Funding for the advocacy projects ranged from US$1,500 to $8,000 and was made possible through support from the Open Society Foundations to CANARI and the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance. CANARI has said updates on the advocacy projects and their impacts throughout the region will be shared through its social media platforms.
