The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), in Baku, Azerbaijan, hosted, on its first day, a discussion session titled "Unity in Action: Intergenerational Voices for Just and Sustainable Islands in the Caribbean."
In this inspiring session, young and senior leaders from the Caribbean Climate Justice Leaders Academy (CCJLA) shared stories of intergenerational collaboration in the struggle for climate justice and sustainability.
This session focused on how the wisdom of the elderly, rooted in traditional knowledge, can blend with the energy, innovation, and digital intelligence of the younger generations to find solutions closely linked to cultural heritage and adaptable to future climate challenges.
The discussion also focused on community-led collaborative projects addressing climate mobility, energy resilience, and biodiversity conservation, illustrating how diverse generational perspectives can fuel effective climate action.
The goal is to inspire the audience with real-life examples of how age-diverse alliances can enhance the resilience of the Caribbean region and foster intergenerational solidarity in global climate solutions.
Tyrell Gittens, an environmental expert and journalist from Trinidad and Tobago, said that enhancing core knowledge of the traditions of peoples and communities has become crucial for a more sustainable world.
He added, "In the Caribbean region, we are facing many climate-related crises." Naturally, we have a set of initiatives aimed at enhancing resilience to climate change, as communities suffer from extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and so on.
Traditional knowledge is vital as a foundation for how to move forward to become more resilient as a society in the face of climate change.
The environmental expert claims that while society may perceive the concepts of resilience as new, they have existed for a long time.
Gittens provided an explanation, stating: "In Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, many communities reside in the river floodplains. With climate change, we are witnessing increasingly heavy rainfall."
"In the Caribbean region, especially Trinidad and Tobago, we have two seasons: the dry season in the first six months of the year and the rainy season in the second half of the year. Of course, we see that the rainy season has become drier, and these traditional and indigenous communities have known how to farm in such conditions," Gittens added.
Nevertheless, Cheryl Senhouse, Finance Innovation Director with the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, said that intergenerational dialogue is the key to the sustainability of the Caribbean region.
As Senhouse highlighted, the elderly are the guardians of ancient traditions and weave the fabric of customs and traditions through the threads of their stories. They embody a treasure of wisdom.
"They can find ways to combine new technologies and methods with traditional approaches to help solve problems," she continued, adding, "We see the convergence between agriculture and renewable energy, as well as the intersection of finance and technology. Additionally, microfinance platforms support individuals working in the climate sector and those often marginalized or lacking financial resources."
