Home / Environment / Caribbean Climate Damage Hits $53.2B
Caribbean Climate Damage Hits $53.2B
29 Jul
Summary
- Caribbean nations lost $53.2bn to climate disasters between 2000-2024.
- Climate change causes over 190 deaths annually in developing islands.
- Jamaica's Hurricane Melissa caused $9.7bn in climate-linked damages.
Developing island nations, particularly in the Caribbean, have incurred over $53.2 billion in economic damages from climate-fuelled disasters between 2000 and 2024. This significant sum represents more than 90% of the total $57 billion in damages across 39 developing island nations worldwide, according to ODI Global research.
The climate crisis is estimated to have caused more than 190 deaths annually over this 25-year period. For Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, the strongest ever recorded there, resulted in $9.7 billion in damages, approximately 80% of the country's total calculated losses, directly attributed to climate change.
These escalating losses underscore the urgent need for international climate financing, as contributions from some wealthy nations are reportedly declining. In response, countries like Jamaica are investing in resilience and renewable energy solutions. For instance, Digicel Group is accelerating its shift to solar power, partnering to install solar-powered telecom sites in Jamaica and Barbados to enhance network resilience during climate shocks.
