Climate action THROUGH CULTURE, collaboration and a collective caribbean approach

Climate Action: A regional push, through civil society leading by example on Caribbean integration. 

The Caribbean is a quite unique space as it relates to integration, and integration related conversations. Since the 1960's the united approach to economics, markets, trade, and even innovation have dominated the discussions amongst our political and diplomatic forefathers that have gone before. 

Fast-forward to our modern situation, post colonization, and in most recent times post pandemic. One must examine that this said goal of regional integration on many levels, though having structural and on paper agreements, it still remains a quite elusive goal which is a far way off in terms of solidifying the Caribbean's position globally as a block or united front. 

With the advent of agendas such as the sustainable development goals, coupled with inclusion of inter-sectorial discussions, forums and even large scale collaborative efforts, we now find ourselves in a position to highlight the importance of a civil society type approach to integration. It gives us a golden chance to see innovation from a grassroots level brought to the very top of the list of achievements in the Caribbean. 

A classic example as evidenced in a regional push is the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance's quest to plant 1M (one million) trees regionally by mid 2021. This initiative through a Caribbean Tree Planting project sees many moving parts of civil society engagement, discussions, ambassadorship and representation for each and every small island developing state, country, and even mainland South American continent inclusion. 

The blend of culture, innovation, a common goal and united voice created quite a buzz regionally. Imagine a civil society group spearheading an effort which included 22 countries, 348 collaborators or stakeholder partners, and as of May managed to plant a total of 1,396,201 trees. 

In essence we can all agree that such a wonderful initiative on a regional level has sparked interest from Caribbean governmental sector entities. Further to this sort of push there is a call for regional Governments to sign an agreement which enacts an annual 'tree planting' week, which is inclusive of cultural programmes displaying art that is inspired by the natural environment, environmental issues and noteworthy topics that are usually swept under the carpet. Additionally, this provides a useful and very practical forum for creation of networks amongst youth from all walks of life and societies around the region. 

The sincere effort on the part of Environment Tobago in this push was to contribute not only an ambassador representing Tobago's interests, but also to show that even small island developing states can have a voice which resonates among counterparts with a similar geographic arrangement, and socio-economic structure. Tobago in itself is a shining example of how the human factor coupled with economic activities are dependent on the natural environment, more specifically. Trees.

In due course of this exercise, the stakeholders and tree planting ambassadors and their partnerships were able to bring to the forefront how important culture is in the general goings on and way of life as it relates to the Caribbean. Life in the region is colourful, filled with sound, artistic innovation and even the occasional tit for tat in whichever local dialect that exists from country to country. This unique blend of creative awareness and output made for a quite entertaining and informative tree planting week for 2021.

Coming back to the most important take away from such a forum and event, climate action is in fact a way of initiating sustainability. Finding a useful and readymade template for messaging of the sustainable development goals is not as difficult or farfetched as some of us believe. In fact the rich cultural heritage and output of the Caribbean region is a golden goose, which delivers not just widely followed content, but also creates the capacity for exporting a large scale export product by way of the 'orange economy'. 

In many national and regional discussions (even here in Tobago) there have been discussions on using music, art, spoken word, theater etc. to inspire this generation and those to come into sustainable practices. Despite the challenges where regional integration are concerned, through this sort of messaging and output we can find a united voice and by extension emphasize how climate action and food security go hand in hand. A marrying of all of these elements and factors can surely see our region growing exponentially in how it is viewed globally on the scale of sustainable development, and sustainable practices in general. 

A great working example of integration, partnerships and civil society leading the charge in the climate action is evidenced in the Caribbean tree planting initiative. If such a momentum is kept up, the sky is the limit as to what can be achieved collectively as a region. 

Environment Tobago's Sean McCoon features with Sheldon Blackman , son of the late "Ras Shorty I"
Garfield Blackman, the inventor of Soca music, delivering an acoustic rendition of the nature inspired song:
"Grow Yuh Food" as part of the Caribbean Tree Planting Week July 5-11, 2021
This performance was streamed live regionally.