Confronting the Caribbean debt challenge 

CPDC / Jubilee Debt Campaign

This project combines civil society coalition-building in the Caribbean with international advocacy efforts. The initiative will strengthen a Caribbean debt justice movement that has a strong focus on climate change and links to gender justice organizations. It will build momentum and political pressure to address the unsustainable debt loads facing Caribbean countries by facilitating collaboration with Caribbean governments and engagement with international decision-makers, including at the G7. The initiative will promote storytelling at the intersection between the debt and climate crises and will facilitate access to international media outlets.  

Why it matters

Caribbean countries are among the most indebted and climate-vulnerable in the world. The costs of climate-induced emergencies, in particular, post-disaster reconstruction, have contributed to unsustainable debt levels in several Caribbean countries. In turn, these debt loads restrict fiscal space, undermining governments' ability to invest in climate change adaptation and mitigation, or other development needs. The pandemic has exacerbated this situation, causing many countries in the region to suffer severe economic contractions, massive unemployment, dwindling foreign direct investment flows and widespread social dislocation. At the same time, there is a critical lack of information and knowledge in civil society about the impact of debt on social and development issues.