‘We are not waiting for permission to survive’: A Jamaican perspective on COP30 after Hurricane Melissa

November 11, 2025

The upcoming COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil (November 10-21) is being met with skepticism by Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS), who are increasingly frustrated by the gap between climate action promises and tangible results. Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, these nations face disproportionate climate impacts, with Hurricane Melissa alone causing an estimated $48-52 billion in regional damage and possibly $67 billion to Jamaica specifically. Caribbean leaders are demanding accountability and Loss and Damage financing from major polluting nations, expressing disappointment that conference organizers plan no new measures and that leaders from the United States, China, India, and Russia will not attend.

Who is affected

Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS), specifically Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, and Bermuda
People in these nations who experienced deaths, destroyed homes, and lost livelihoods from Hurricane Melissa
The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) and its CEO Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie
The Jamaican government
The tourism sector, businesses, and agricultural industries in affected Caribbean nations

What action is being taken

The Jamaican government has taken out a USD $150 million catastrophe bond as part of its disaster risk financing strategy
Caribbean nations are preparing to attend COP30 with a wait-and-see stance
The region is working to find creative ways to build resilience and finance Loss and Damage recovery
Preliminary damage estimates are being compiled (currently at USD $67 billion for Jamaica alone)

Why it matters

This situation highlights the fundamental injustice of the climate crisis, where nations that contribute least to greenhouse gas emissions suffer the most devastating consequences. The gap between climate pledges and actual support threatens the survival of small island developing states that face repeated, intensifying storms causing billions in damages annually. Without accountability from major polluters and adequate Loss and Damage financing, vulnerable island nations are forced to shoulder unsustainable financial burdens while major emitting countries—whose industrial development contributed to the crisis—avoid responsibility. The absence of leadership from the world's largest emitters at COP30 compounds this injustice and undermines global climate cooperation at a critical moment.

What's next

The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30 will be held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21
Caribbean nations plan to continue demanding accountability, adaptation financing, and Loss and Damage payments from major polluting nations
The region will pursue creative approaches to building resilience and financing Loss and Damage recovery rather than waiting for international support

Read full article from source: Global Voices