Small Islands, Big Challenges: Climate Change and Migration in the Caribbean
The Caribbean’s small island nations are experiencing the frontline effects of climate change. As sea levels rise and hurricanes become more intense, coastal communities—key hubs for both residents and industries—find themselves increasingly at risk. These environmental pressures not only threaten safety and infrastructure but are also driving migration and undermining tourism-dependent economies.
In this insightful podcast episode, Dr. Natalie Dietrich Jones, Senior Research Fellow and migration expert at the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) at the University of the West Indies, delves into:
Climate-driven displacement within the region and beyond
Potential economic ripple effects in tourism-reliant nations
How the Caribbean and Pacific address climate-related migration
With a strong background in intra‑regional migration and border governance, Dr. Dietrich Jones brings a critical perspective on how environmental changes intensify vulnerabilities across Caribbean societies.
Listen to the full episode:
Small Islands, Big Challenges - Climate Change and Migration in the Caribbean
Why This Matters
Coastal Exposure: Many Caribbean nations have populations and key economic activities clustered near shores - making them highly susceptible to climate shocks.
Migration Patterns: These threats are increasingly pushing people to relocate, whether within the Caribbean or internationally.
Economic Fragility: Countries reliant on tourism face acute risks if environmental changes deter visitors or damage infrastructure.
Responses to climate-induced migration in the Caribbean and Pacific
About Dr. Natalie Dietrich Jones
A respected figure in migration and development, Dr. Dietrich Jones leads SALISES’s Migration and Development research cluster and coordinates the MSc module on Small States’ Development. Based at UWI Mona, her work spans qualitative migration research and policy-focused collaborations with regional authorities and international agencies.