Building resilience in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world. The changing climate may make these disasters even worse. There is, however, hope in building a nation that is more resilient to storms, floods, earthquakes, and fires; more adaptable to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns; and stronger in the face of adversity.

Young people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines have an opportunity to lead the country toward a more sustainable future. It is the young that will experience the most dramatic climatic changes over their lifetimes. Young people, therefore, are best positioned to implement the innovations in agriculture, water, fishing, energy, and business that will move St. Vincent and the Grenadines toward resilience and sustainability. Vincentians cannot stop the storms, floods, and other disasters from coming, but they can prepare for their arrival and reduce their negative impacts.

I collaborated with the Pan American Development Foundation to create a curriculum in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The curriculum teaches young adults about climate change and disasters as well as how to cope with their effects. Students are introduced to people and organizations, such as the Caribbean Climate Innovation Center, working on the front lines to build a sustainable St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The curriculum includes inspiring stories of Vincentians working to rebuild their communities after disasters and, most importantly, empowers young adults to take action in their own communities to save lives and livelihoods.