Pierre Noel is the Executive Director of the Haiti Development Institute (HDI), an organization advancing development by strengthening local leadership and institutional capacity across Haiti. HDI’s approach centers local communities as architects of their future, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions. Through infrastructure development, civic leadership, and cross-sector partnerships, HDI offers a model for locally grounded philanthropy that responds to crisis while building long-...

Rashema Ingraham is an advocate for community-engaged conservation, leading Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Bahamas. Rashima's connection to the ocean is deeply personal and rooted in her family heritage. In this episode of the CLASP series Rashema and Derval discuss the importance of marine conservation in the Caribbean, the role of community engagement in conservation efforts, and how philanthropy can support local initiatives. Rashema shares her personal journey into climate advocacy, the ...

In this episode, Derval Barzey sits down with Carolyn Malfood, CEO of the Grace Kennedy Foundation, to explore the powerful intersection of climate action and philanthropy in the Caribbean. They discuss the foundation’s evolution over the years, its deep commitment to sustainability through ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices, and highlight the remarkable impact of initiatives like the Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project. This conversation underscores the importance...

In this episode of the CLASP podcast series, host Derval Barzey sits down with Professor Rosalea Hamilton, Chair of the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance (CARIPHIL) and CEO of the Lasco Chin Foundation, to discuss how collaborative philanthropy is driving climate resilience, gender equity, and grassroots empowerment across the Caribbean. With small island states facing the multiple crises of climate change and economic and geopolitical uncertainty, the time for bold, united action is now. Prof...

Welcome to the CLASP Podcast Series. In this introductory episode of the CLASP podcast series, host Derval Barzey discusses the intersection of climate action and philanthropy in the Caribbean with Erica Miller, Head of Climate at WINGS and Anthea McLaughlin, CEO of The Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance (CariPhil). They explore the transformative potential of the CLASP initiative. CLASP: Forging a Resilient Caribbean Through Climate Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships. The CLASP Initiati...

Welcome to the CLASP podcast series where climate action meets philanthropy in the Caribbean and beyond. In this series we examine the transformative power of strategic impact giving and grassroots resilience in tackling the climate crisis. So whether you're a funder, activist, policymaker, or simply passionate about the environment, this series is for you. Join us as we uncover inspiring success stories and spark new ideas to build a more sustainable, climate resilient Caribbean. Let's learn...

In this episode of the Climate Conscious Podcast, we delve into the complexities of sustainability planning with Petal Joseph, a sustainability expert and LEED consultant. Petal shares her unique journey from environmental science to urban planning, discussing her work in green certification and sustainable development. She offers valuable insights on the intersection of social justice, grassroots activism, and planning, as well as the importance of balancing the environment, economy, and soc...

Meet Sheena Zuniga, the President of the National Garifuna Council in Belize. Sheena shares insights into the pressing climate challenges facing the Garifuna communities, particularly the impact of coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and changing fish populations. As indigenous people deeply connected to their environment, the Garifuna rely on traditional knowledge for survival. The lack of access to resources limits there ability to adapt to climate change and its impact. Sheena discus...

Meet Bevon Chadel Charles, the visionary CEO of Akata Farms in Grenada. In this episode Bevon shares her journey in securing climate finance to advance sustainable agriculture in Grenada. She discusses the transformative impact of funding from initiatives like the Eastern Caribbean Business Resilient Challenge and the UNDP’s Blue-Green Innovation Challenge, which enabled her team to implement greenhouses, rain harvesting systems, and empower small farmers—especially women. Bevan offers key ad...

Meet Shailina Lingaard, a member of the Lokono tribe, also known as the Arawak tribe in Suriname. She represents the Bureau Vereniging van Inheemse Dorpshoofden in Suriname (Bureau Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname) as known as VIDS. VIDS advocates for the legal recognition of Indigenous collective rights. Climate change poses significant threats to Indigenous ways of life, including extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and prolonged droughts. These impacts ...

In this episode of The Climate Conscious Podcast's Demystify Series, Princess Avianne Charles unpacks the deep connection between climate change and occupational safety and health. Princess Avianne Charles is a workers' rights activist and writer based in Trinidad and Tobago. She covers topics on human rights, labour laws, climate and environmental justice, and occupational safety and health. With a degree in Occupational Safety and Health, she centers her work on providing safer spaces and...

In this episode of The Climate Conscious Podcast's Demystify Series, Christian Wassermann, the founder of Plastic Compact, explains an innovative approach to addressing plastic pollution. Christian shares the vision behind his project—a mobile app that incentivizes plastic waste collection through micro rewards, empowering individuals to take actionable steps against plastic pollution. Key points: The pressing challenges of plastic waste, its impact on human health and ecosystems, and the im...

Derval and Jesse Ramcharan discuss the importance of SDG 16 Peace, Justice, and strong institutions. Jesse explains that strong institutions are crucial for creating inclusive, just, and sustainable societies, and they directly support the achievement of other SDGs. Jesse Ramcharan is a transformational leader and business consultant specializing in digital transformation and change management. He is the Regional Director of USIDHR – US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, the Country D...

Demystifying Carbon CaptureThe first episode of the Demystify series explores various aspects of carbon capture, including its role in addressing global decarbonisation challenges, environmental justice concerns, and the importance of community engagement in implementation. This conversation also touched on the risks of carbon dioxide storage and transportation, as well as the need to consider social and economic factors in the transition to renewable energy sources.Marsha King, a sustai...

Activist & Educator, Dahvia Hylton is leading protest action in Jamaica against Deep Sea Mining (DSM). In this episode, she makes a strong case for why this activity should not be supported. She outlines the tangible and intangible value of the ocean, including climate regulation and marine biodiversity, the potential environmental, cultural and social impacts of DSM and highlights the work of the Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council in defending the sustainability of the Ocean and by ext...

Enjoy snippets of the Better Than Before Series first released in March 2023.The Better Than Before series is a Production of The Climate Conscious Podcast in collaboration with CANARI, as part of the project Amplifying Local Voices for a Just and Climate resilient COVID-19 Recovery", with support of the Open Society Foundations (OSF).Episode 1 - Reimagining Development in the Caribbean | feat. Nicole Leotaud, CANARIEpisode 2 - Closing the gap: Gender equality and social inclusion in the Cari...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Menakshi Babulall, a passionate advocate for women's empowerment, community development, and sustainability. Menakshi, the founder of A Different View Project and Vaksana, is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment for women and children in her homeland of Guyana. In this episode, we explore Menakshi's journey, motivations, and the transformative work she is leading.Episode Highlights:Menakshi's personal story and the founding of A Differe...

"Major hurricanes come with major price tags."Join us for an insightful episode featuring Kendria Ferguson, a native of The Bahamas with extensive expertise in sustainable development and disaster management. She is pursuing her PhD at the UWI Mona Sustainable Development Institute, focusing on the socio-economic impact of natural disasters in the Bahamian context.In this episode, Kendria shares her first-hand experiences and insights on the impacts of hurricanes on Caribbean communities, emp...

Welcome to Part 5 of Climate Change ABCs. In this episode, host Derval Barzey continues our mission to break down complex climate jargon into understandable terms. This episode covers the letters 0 through ROcean Acidification - With increasing concentrations of CO2 released into the atmosphere from human activities, the world's oceans are absorbing more and more carbon dioxide. This alters the pH of the ocean making it more acidic than usual. Paris Agreement - an international treaty ad...

Leslie Hufstetler is the CEO of Infinigen Renewables, a prominent renewable energy platform dedicated to developing and operating utility-scale solar and commercial and industrial (C&I) projects across Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and North and Central America. High oil prices stimulated a shift in Puerto Rico's energy mix from fossil fuels to a greater share of renewables. This alternative not only lowered the cost of energy but reduced greenhouses emissions and air pollution. Leslie...