By Racquel Moses
The Caribbean region is at the forefront of the climate crisis, yet despite this – and despite representing 1% of the world’s population – it receives a mere 0.3% of climate finance. This inequity is mirrored elsewhere and across the global distribution of climate financing, with a staggering 94% directed towards mitigation and only 6% for adaptation.

Racquel Moses, center, CEO of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator
As CEO of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, I am dedicated to rectifying this glaring disparity. We must accelerate the race towards a sustainable future by connecting public and private investment opportunities with organizations and projects that are developing sustainable solutions for our region.
This work is essential because the Caribbean is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Sea level rise, more intense hurricanes, and changes in precipitation patterns are already having a devastating impact on communities, ecosystems, and economies. Ultimately, our shared actions and the collaborations we foster will determine whether we win together or, regrettably, face challenges collectively.
Our Accelerator, dedicated to propelling economic development in the Caribbean region, provides a timely boost in this race. Serving as a bridge, it connects public and private investment opportunities with organizations and projects that are developing sustainable solutions for the region. These supported projects, aiming to enhance climate resilience, protect ecosystems, advance clean energy, and more, have the potential to drive positive change far beyond the region's shores.
One example is our smart agriculture project in Anguilla, Barbados, and the Cayman Islands, where – through funding from the Sony Music Global Social Justice Fund and the support of agriculture technology company Fork Farms – we were able to grant 12 vertical indoor hydroponic systems. Each one of these, which takes up just 9 square feet of space, can grow 25 pounds of lettuce every 28 days while using 98% less water and land than traditional agriculture.

Launch of a smart agriculture project in Anguilla, Barbados, and the Cayman Islands
We are fully aware that the journey towards a clean future cannot be taken alone. Bringing everyone along on this voyage is essential, especially if the end goal is a just and equitable world.
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of participating in the Zayed Sustainability Prize Forum during New York Climate Week, where I addressed the crucial issue of climate justice and equity. I called upon the world’s financial institutions to rethink the climate finance landscape to promote equity. These actions can help bridge the capacity gap and ensure that smaller regions have a fair chance to access the funding needed to address climate change effectively.
The Zayed Sustainability Prize exemplifies the ethos of partnership, particularly how it works to scale impact. By recognising and rewarding the achievements of organisations and high schools who are driving innovative sustainability solutions, the Prize encourages others to follow suit, creating a ripple effect that spans borders and generations.
The monumental decision on loss and damage made last year at COP27 reinforced a clear need: as losses continue to mount, we must invest more in adaptation and loss and damage to reduce the devastating consequences of climate change that are already impacting communities, ecosystems, and vulnerable populations worldwide.
In the Caribbean, we are diligently working on building our economic resilience by supporting entrepreneurs with climate solutions primed for export. This economic resilience will eventually fund both our adaptation and mitigation efforts.
I cannot underestimate the pivotal role of civil society and businesses in our shared quest to transform aspirations into actions. These are the entities translating global goals into local initiatives, demonstrating that change is not solely a top-down process. It is these grassroots efforts that form the backbone of our sustainability journey.
Looking ahead, these efforts lay the foundation for the crucial climate gathering at COP28 in the UAE, where the first global stocktake will shape key decisions for our planet's future. Let's build the momentum now for a brighter tomorrow
Racquel Moses is the CEO of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, an organisation dedicated to driving sustainable economic development and entrepreneurship in the Caribbean region, and a UNFCCC Global Ambassador.
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There should be equity everywhere.. we are all being affected .. more to those who contributed least to the problems
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Your commitment to funding adaptation and mitigation efforts further highlights the foresight and dedication to creating a positive impact.
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Moses underscores the necessity for increased investment in adaptation and loss and damage, as reinforced by the decision at COP27. The focus on building economic resilience and supporting climate entrepreneurs highlights a bottom-up approach, acknowledging the pivotal role of civil society and businesses in translating global goals into local action.