Neoliberalism, Climate Risks, and Resilience-Building in the Caribbean

This study examines the relationship between the adoption of neoliberal economic policies and climate change-related risks in the Caribbean. These neoliberal policies, which promote free trade, foreign investment inflows, and austerity measures, have steered Caribbean economies towards a heavy reliance on tourism—a reliance that has, in turn, heightened the region’s vulnerability to certain climate risks, such as extreme storms and rising sea levels. These risks threaten the tourism industry, as well as the local livelihoods that depend on it. This chapter investigates this topic in greater detail. In doing so, it offers empirical evidence that neoliberal policies have led to an expansion of the tourism sector in Caribbean countries. It then considers how this expansion of tourism has affected the climate vulnerabilities of these nations. The chapter closes by suggesting strategies that can be used to enhance resilience to climate change, emphasizing the need for alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals through a multifaceted approach that involves policymakers, businesses, and community groups.