Youth have a role to play in building resilience to health and climate crisis facing Caribbean islands

Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) continue to struggle with the impacts of climate change while also managing a difficult and ongoing pandemic response. The second AGYLE webinar held on 10 March offered a knowledge-sharing platform for young people in the region to get involved and discuss these critical issues. The AGYLE webinar featured insightful discussions that focused on the role of young in building resilience against the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis.

Held under the leadership of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and organized by RCC St. George’s, UNICEF, WHO/PAHO, YOUNGO and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), the webinar brought together more than 40 young people. The webinar featured panels and participants sharing different perspectives on the role of youth in building resilience.

Fleur Newman, Unit Lead for the UN Climate Change ACE team, set the tone for the meeting at the opening by speaking about the urgent need to elevate the voices of the most vulnerable and marginalized. These people are deeply affected by climate change and the covid pandemic, and their ideas should be embedded into action on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The WHO/PAHO’s Dr Daniel Buss then gave an insightful presentation on the interlinkages between the pandemic, health and the climate crisis, highlighting the need to strengthen climate-resilient health systems in the region.

These scene setting remarks were followed by youth perspectives from the region. Dominique Antonia Ashley Noralez from CYEN moderated a youth panel that featured Climate Activist and UNICEF Ambassador Priyanka Lalla, CYEN’s Karla Nicholls and YOUNGO’s Eddy Frank. Robust discussion focused on scaling up youth-led initiatives to encourage others to promote health and climate change. There was also an emphasis on awareness-raising and education.

A second panel discussion followed with UNFCCC National ACE Focal Points Snaliah Mahal from St. Lucia and Gillian Stanislaus from Trinidad and Tobago. They shared insights on how young people can better integrate into critical decision making and help build climate resilience.

Daryl George from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda wrapped up the webinar with a call for support for youth-led initiatives. An enabling framework for young people to participate and lead in the current crisis prepares societies for the future, no matter what may come.

Learn more about the AGYLE initiative on the AGYLE webpage.