Research by the development thinktank ODI Global indicates that Caribbean nations have suffered $53.2bn (£40bn) in damage from climate-fuelled disasters between 2000 and 2024. This figure accounts for more than 90% of the total $57bn in economic damage experienced by 39 developing island nations across various regions, including the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea.
The ODI Global study also estimates that the climate crisis led to over 190 deaths per year during the 25-year period examined. Emily Wilkinson, the report's author, stated that the research is significant for discussions regarding global climate reparations.
The report, published on Wednesday, highlighted Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica in October 2025 with winds of 185mph (298 km/h). Experts attribute the storm's intensity to global heating, with the report linking $9.7bn—approximately 80% of the government's calculated damage and losses of $12.2bn—directly to the climate crisis. This amount is nearly half of Jamaica's total economy.
In response to escalating climate losses, ODI notes that international financing for climate crisis mitigation and adaptation is declining as some wealthy nations reduce their contributions. Jamaica's government passed the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority Act in May to accelerate post-disaster rebuilding and enhance resilience. Last month, Prime Minister Andrew Holness pledged investment in cleaner, cheaper renewable energy sources like solar.
Digicel Group, a leading internet and telecoms provider in the Caribbean, is accelerating a shift to solar energy for its network. The company has partnered with Caban Energy to deploy solar-powered telecom sites in Jamaica and Barbados, with plans to expand to 15 of its 25 markets. Marcelo Cataldo, Digicel's chief executive, stated that solar is both environmentally friendly and more resilient, helping communication systems stay online longer during storms.
Wilkinson suggested that switching to solar is a solution for Caribbean nations to improve resilience, but noted challenges such as high upfront costs, intermittency, storage, and grid stability. ODI Global's findings project that under a 1.5C warming scenario, storms alone could cause an additional $49bn in climate-attributable losses across small island developing nations by 2050, rising to $51bn at 2C.