By Marco Lopez
Grenada’s resilience is its people’s spirit. As the Spice Isles celebrates 51 years of independence, its people are an example of unwavering resilience in the face of climate impacts. The devastation left by Hurricane Beryl on the tri-island state after its landfall on July 1, 2024, is etched into the landscape, and the psyche of its people.
Yet, the camaraderie and admirable pliability that is a trade made of Caribbean islanders shone through as Grenadians resolved to pick up the pieces. Grenada’s ability to adapt and recover comes from its close-knit community and commitment to rebuild. This makes supporting the nation to rebuild a stronger and more resilient community more important than ever.
Almost every home – according to the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund – between 95 – 100 % – on Grenada’s islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique was damaged. Thousands of residents were displaced.
The storm’s wind speed increased as it approached the island – rapid intensification fueled by warmer ocean temperatures as a result of unfettered greenhouse gas emissions. An increasingly common tell-tale signature of climate-fueled tropical cyclones.
The people of Grenada were as prepared as they could have been.
This storm’s fury left destitution that stirred memories of 20 years prior – when Hurricane Ivan flattened the island. Recent storms to hit the nation, Ivan (2004), Emily (2005), Beryl (2024), and before that – Janet (1995) – confirm that the nation sits vulnerably within the hurricane belt and remains within the crosshairs of storms.
Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell attended COP29, sounding the alarm that everyone is at risk of climate impact.
“I chose not to attend on prior occasions because of cynicism,” PM Mitchell confessed.
“But having experienced Hurricane Beryl, I think it was important for me to be here to make sure that our partners understand that this is not a blame game, this is not finger-pointing, this is real and it is just a matter of time before others being to experience what we’re experiencing,” he explained.
Access to climate finance is just one tool that can support the citizens of Grenada to rebuild to better withstand future storms.
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) has been working along with its partners to equip member states with the expertise to develop bankable climate projects – increasing the country’s access to climate finance.
Just three months after Category 4 Hurricane Beryl left the islands of Carriacou, and Petite Martinique as disaster zones, representatives from the CCCCC’s working with the Small Island Developing States Capacity and Resilience (SIDAR) Program for the Caribbean visited the nation to conduct training with 25 technical officers.
The islands were still disaster zones when the three-day workshop took place from September 11th to the 13th, the declaration was lifted until the end of September 2024. These trainings are geared toward equipping experts with the tools, and skillsets needed to craft mitigation, adaptation, and resilience-building projects for the member state.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Resilience, Peron Johnson, who delivered remarks at the workshop said, “The Grenada CCCCCs country project management training concluded with a renewed commitment between the Government of Grenada, the CCCCC, and the UK Government, which has pledged ongoing technical assistance to support the development of bankable projects.”
These training organised by the CCCCC are key to building the capacity of government stakeholders to secure financial support from multilaterals like the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund.
Grenada’s Spice is its people.
The resilience of the people demonstrated remarkable grit, strength, and tenacity in the face of climate adversity. This resilience, however, should not be an excuse for substandard support from those historically responsible for the climate impacts we are seeing.
As the people of Grenada celebrate 51 years of Independence, we celebrate their endurance, vigor, and resolve to live in prosperity on their island home.
