Prime Minister Mia Mottley has issued a forceful call to Barbadians to confront the escalating challenges of climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for adaptation as extreme weather events become more frequent and devastating. Her remarks followed a visit to Charles Rowe Bridge in St George, an area severely impacted by Sunday’s floods, which tragically claimed a life. Mottley highlighted that the intensity of the downpour underscores the harsh reality of a transformed climate, one that Barbados’ aging infrastructure was never designed to endure. While acknowledging the efforts of the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) in clearing waterways, she pointed out critical lapses, such as failing to remove debris, which exacerbated the flooding. Mottley stressed that a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s drainage systems cannot be achieved overnight, citing similar challenges faced by neighboring Caribbean nations like Jamaica, Grenada, and St Vincent. She reiterated her international advocacy for climate financing, emphasizing that Barbados, despite its minimal contribution to global emissions, is disproportionately affected by climate-driven threats such as flooding, drought, and sargassum. Mottley warned that even brief periods of heavy rainfall now pose significant risks, urging citizens to embrace a new reality where adaptation is paramount. She differentiated between mitigation—preventing further temperature rises—and adaptation—changing lifestyles and infrastructure to minimize damage and loss of life. Mottley’s message was clear: Barbados must prioritize adaptation to safeguard its future in an increasingly unpredictable climate.