Caribbean senior government officials and civil society leaders met on 2–3 March 2026 at Gros-Islet, Saint Lucia, for the Caribbean Convening on a Global Just Transition from Fossil Fuels.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (Conference of Parties (COP28)) closed with an agreement that signals the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era by laying the ground for a “swift, just and equitable transition,” underpinned by deep emissions cuts and scaled-up finance.
In a demonstration of global solidarity, negotiators from nearly 200 Parties came together in Dubai to decide on the world’s first ‘global stocktake’ to ratchet up climate action before the end of the decade – with the overarching aim of keeping the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach.
This 2-day meeting in St. Lucia served as a reparatory session, reaffirming the region’s commitment to shaping international cooperation toward a fast, fair, and financed global phase-out of oil, gas, and coal. Despite growing global consensus on the need to transition away from fossil fuels, international climate and financing discussions continue to face gridlock, even as climate impacts intensify worldwide.
The 2025 UNEP Production Gap Report predicts that governments will produce 120% more fossil fuels by 2030 than is consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C.
Several Caribbean countries were a part of the conversation that secured 1.5°C limit under the Paris Agreement. They were also among the 18 countries in talks with the proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty.
The final decision emphasises solidarity and investment, setting ambitious financial targets while leaving energy transition for later discussion. The burning of fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases that are by far the largest contributors to global warming, making this omission a point of concern for many nations, including negotiators from South America, North America, and the EU, as well as civil society groups.
Expectations were high that COP30’s final decision would include explicit reference to phasing out fossil fuels. More than 80 countries backed Brazil’s proposal for a formal ‘roadmap.’
Before the final plenary, Brazilian scientist Carlos Nobre issued a stark warning: fossil fuel use must fall to zero by 2040 – 2045 at the latest to avoid catastrophic temperature rises of up to 2.5°C by mid-century. That trajectory, he said, would spell the near-total loss of coral reefs, the collapse of the Amazon rainforest, and an accelerated melt of the Greenland ice sheet.
Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency’s Chief Technical Advisor, Ms Charlin Bodlee, said Caribbean states face a climate finance gap and rely on loan-based funding.
Ms. Charlin Bodlee, Chief Technical Advisor Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, said: “Addressing this will require large-scale debt-sensitive mechanisms, increased grant finance, and innovative structures…”
Dr. James Fletcher, Executive Director, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, stated that Caribbean society has fought to secure the 1.5°C goal in the Paris Agreement through global advocacy for Loss and Damage. He highlighted that a transition must include concessional finance, debt reform, expanded energy access, renewable scale-up, and social protection for affected communities.
At the same time, Alex Rafalowicz, Executive Director, Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, said, “The 1.5°C limit is at risk – and we must be clear about why.” He further stated that the primary drivers of emissions, public health and pollution impacts are coal, oil, and gas.
The Caribbean’s position
The two-day meeting strengthened regional coordination and clarified Caribbean priorities ahead of the Santa Marta Conference.
Day one convened civil society representatives to examine the scientific, legal, and multilateral context for a fossil fuel transition, including the role of NDCs, and to define shared priorities and red lines. Day two brought together senior government officials to assess barriers and opportunities for transition, specifically in the Caribbean context, concluding with agreement on the core elements of a coordinated regional position for Santa Marta.
Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Environment Trust, said, “In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica faced the stark reality of loss and damage: communities were submerged, roads rendered impassable, and homes and buildings destroyed.” She further emphasised that hospitals and other critical infrastructure sustained severe damage, thousands were displaced, agriculture suffered heavy losses, electricity and water systems were disrupted, and families were left trying to determine what could be salvaged.
Regional representatives will travel to Colombia with several important questions for leaders. At the convening, however, government officials called for a clear understanding of what transitioning actually requires of our economy and society. They also called for international compensation for leaving the resource untapped, while also saying that reskilling is vital for the transition.
A Closer Look
For Caribbean civil society, climate action is a legal and human rights obligation. Communities across the region are already bearing the cost of inaction. Continued fossil fuel exploration in this context is neither just nor sustainable; it entrenches the very systems driving the region’s vulnerability. At the same time, an unmanaged transition risks worsening inequality and undermining economic and social rights, underscoring the need to empower workers and communities to participate meaningfully in emerging green sectors.
The announcement of this landmark convening comes at a pivotal moment, marked by growing disconnect between global fossil fuel production plans and what is required to limit warming to 1.5°C. Government projections show fossil fuel production will exceed Paris-aligned levels by more than 120% in 2030, and by 2050, production is expected to be 4.5 times higher than what a 1.5°C pathway allows, highlighting the urgency of a coordinated global effort to phase out coal, oil, and gas.
The Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative reemphasised, “…fossil-fuel-dependent nations want to end their dependence on oil, gas, and coal extraction, but doing so fairly requires unprecedented international cooperation so that no one is left behind.”
As preparations continue for the first International Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels scheduled for April 24 to 29 in Santa Marta, Caribbean stakeholders highlighted their shared commitment to ensuring that any global phase-out framework reflects principles of equity, responsibility, and support for small island developing states (SIDS).
