Action is needed for Caribbean food systems to weather climate chang

Published on December 1, 2025

Caribbean agriculture faces an existential crisis as increasingly intense climate events devastate farming communities across the region, experts and development leaders warned at a critical side event during the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) which was held on November 10 – 21, 2025 in Belém, Brazil.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) convened panel discussion, brought together representatives from the CDB, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and CGIAR to address the urgent need for transformative climate action in Caribbean food systems.

In opening the discussion, CDB President, Daniel M. Best cited the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, which recently ravaged Jamaica, noting that the agriculture sector is often among the hardest hit by climate shocks.

Dr. Todd Rosenstock, Director of Climate Action at CGIAR, noted that extreme events affect not only agricultural production directly but entire value chains and food systems.

Ms. Kristin Lang, Director for the Latin America and Caribbean Region at the GCF Secretariat took a similar position. “We’re all seeing the issue of water security coming into play and we can talk about food, but we can’t have any food if we don’t have any water.”