A striking disparity in carbon dioxide emissions across Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations has been revealed by the latest data from the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), compiled by the World Bank. The 2024 statistics demonstrate that thirteen of the fourteen member states maintain per capita emissions significantly below the global average of 4.69 tonnes.
Trinidad and Tobago stands as the sole regional outlier, registering a substantial 19.58 tonnes of CO₂ per person—more than quadruple the worldwide average. This elevated figure is directly attributable to its petrochemical-dependent economy. Notably, however, the country has achieved a 28% reduction in its per capita emissions since 2015, coinciding with a downturn in its energy sector’s output.
In stark contrast, several CARICOM members exhibit minimal carbon footprints. Haiti records the region’s lowest output at a mere 0.30 tonnes per capita, followed by Belize at 0.93 tonnes. The Eastern Caribbean nations of Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia all maintain emissions below 2 tonnes per person, representing less than half the global average.
Guyana emerges as the region’s most significant upward trend, with a 67% surge in per capita emissions since 2015—climbing from 2.73 to 4.56 tonnes. This dramatic increase parallels the rapid development of its offshore oil industry.
This data underscores a profound climate injustice: those Caribbean nations contributing the least to global carbon emissions simultaneously face the most severe threats from its consequences, including rising sea levels and intensifying weather events.