Episode 1: Global Yaadie Gets Climate Conscious

In this Season Two Premiere and first ever pod to pod episode, island girls with identical passions reflect on their role in the climate change space. Podcast hosts from separate platforms Dainalyn and Derval,  exchange experiences and offload the challenges in promoting climate action and sustainability. There is no escaping the climate reality for Caribbean people whose paradise needs protecting from natural disasters, constant climate threats and old models of development.

What is it we aren’t saying in convincing people to switch to sustainable living? The truth is, it is an uphill battle and its quite the oxymoron tabling issues that are so important yet blindsided by more pressing, personal needs. Climate change is a current threat that seems so far away in our minds at times. Hence, the importance of individuals and entities who continue to hold the frame, so we are reminded of the bigger picture.

No (wo)man is an island. This episode exemplifies the importance of community and the coming together of like-minded individuals, placing collaboration over competition to achieve the same goal.

Here are some points from our conversation:

• It can feel isolated in the spaces you occupy but there is always a network within your niche. Finding your tribe gives you courage to push through.
• Representation Matters. Caribbean people are living the climate experience therefore climate leadership and action is also the responsibility of Small Island Developing States as much as the Global North.
• There is no one fix to climate change and taking climate action. The most important focus is exploring ways to convert awareness into action.
• Climate change affects every citizen of the Caribbean. It is important to be engaged in the climate conversation at every level as sustainabilty is not limited to policy makers and technocrats, it affects business owners, farmers and more.
• Sustainability must be an important consideration. It is important to push against the narrative that championing climate action is an “international norm”. It must be seen as part of local culture.
• There needs to be a wider framework or enabling environment to facilitate sustainability actions. eg. Waste management and recycling systems to promote possible environment practices.
• Solutions to local development challenges do not always reside in external parties. The creativity and innovation to solve challenges must come from local knowledge. There is a need to reclaim culturally relevant principles and practices that have served Caribbean people well in the past. Eg invention of the steel pan in Trinidad and Tobago made from oil drums.

Connect with Derval at the climateconscious.com or The Climate Conscious Podcast

Song Credits:

Interlude: ‘Don’t You Know’ by Chavez Illmatiq

Outro: ‘Country Breeze’ by Chavez Illmatiq