As we still assess the damages caused by Category 5 Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, and as Typhoon Gaemi pounds Southeast Asia, the devastating power of extreme weather events like these has once again been thrust into the global spotlight.
Hurricane Beryl was the earliest ever formed hurricane of this level to strike our region, another first for major climate events in recorded history. The storm swept through Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St Lucia, and then the Cayman Islands, before hitting the Yucatan Peninsula and then the Gulf of Mexico. Its impact was felt all the way in the United States’ Midwest.
The Caribbean, a region known for its stunning beauty and vibrant culture, has become the unfortunate poster child for climate vulnerability. Each hurricane season brings with it a looming sense of dread, as communities brace for storms that are growing stronger and more unpredictable. Each year, such extreme weather phenomena are getting worse, and this year they started even earlier.
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Beryl is a harrowing reminder of this harsh reality. Homes are flattened, infrastructure obliterated and lives tragically lost. The economic toll is staggering, with recovery efforts stretching the limited resources of these nations to their breaking point.
The escalating frequency and intensity of such hurricanes underscore a stark reality: The continued use of fossil fuels is fuelling climate change, making these catastrophic events more severe and frequent, striking small island nations like those in the Caribbean the hardest. As islander citizens, we bear the brunt of these impacts while being the least responsible for the climate crisis.
