While the region continues to face the threat of a mounting pandemic that will most likely stay with us for quite some time, we are also in the midst of an increasing climate crisis. Currently, our Caribbean sister country, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is battling a still erupting volcano. It has been good to see the way in which Guyana and many other Caribbean countries have been actively mobilizing to provide relief and support to residents of SVG.
In moments of crisis, the long talked about Caribbean spirit of unity finally takes centre stage. As the region responds to this recent natural disaster, it can also be an opportunity to think about the ways within which our nations continue to sustainably support and build each other. This will be necessary as we brace ourselves for the increasing natural disasters and food shortages that will become more regular as the years roll on.
Many Caribbean economies have already been weakened due to COVID-19 that resulted in rapid decreases in revenues from tourism and other economic activities that rely on global trade systems. We are feeling the effects of little to no diversification within our region and the impacts of this will not let up anytime soon. Diversifying our economies would also mean becoming more aware of the ways new industries can contribute to or be affected by climate change. The similarity between economies and sustainable development challenges within the Caribbean can be used as a starting point for greater collaboration. As we continue to see, the lack of resources and the ever-growing dependence on international trade matched with our susceptibility to natural disasters will wreak further havoc on our small nations in times soon to come.
Something that many have already begun to contend with, are severe food shortages and hiked prices given the region’s reliance on importation rather than creation. While Guyana and a few others are considered food secure nations, the reality is that food accessibility remains an issue, particularly for minoritized populations and those who are poor. These are not problems that are going to fade whenever COVID-19 stops making its mark as they existed before and merely became exacerbated with the pandemic. These problems will grow in seriousness as future pandemics and natural disasters predictably continue to disrupt food systems. More and more persons will find it increasingly difficult to nourish themselves and families sufficiently. As it stands, already ten percent of the world’s population remains undernourished while in the Caribbean, that rate stands at approximately 19 percent.
Food insecurity is heavily impacted by the environmental, political and socio-economic realities today. With the increasing risks that will ultimately impact us all, it is high time that Guyana and the rest of the region begin implementing actionable steps to face the looming intersecting crises that are on our doorstep. These growing crises will of course not only affect the Caribbean as it is estimated that several continents could develop food crises at once. We will however, be the ones that will be severely hit by the negative outcomes of the ensuing climate crisis and its accompanying problems such as food insecurity, water scarcity, viruses and further ecological collapse.
The thing is, while the Caribbean is a relatively low contributor towards climate change, we will be the ones most impacted by it. What globalization and our interconnected food systems provide us with is a clear snapshot of climate justice issues that sees high income and high emission countries being less vulnerable to climate change while small states such as ours bear the brunt of their reckless corporate practices that harm the environment. The Global North will be the least impacted while those who will be particularly affected would be small farmers, women and children from developing countries. It is important that any work targeting climate change and food insecurity pay particular attention to these groups when designing and implementing initiatives. Unfortunately, when climate security and human rights come up against the desire for economic growth, capital always comes out winning while the environment and its minoritized occupants are left to fend for themselves.
