ABSTRACT
Caribbean small island states are some of the most vulnerable in the world to climate change, and the human rights of residents of these countries have arguably already been impacted. Most Commonwealth Caribbean countries have written constitutions and institutional structures which protect fundamental rights and freedoms, though not in regard to human rights violations due to climate change. Recent events in both The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago have impacted the rights of residents in these countries and exemplify the need for these states to institute policies and protections specifically in the context of human rights and climate change. This chapter is separated into four main sections. The first sets out the particular vulnerabilities of Caribbean states to climate change, highlighting the issue of loss and damage. The second provides a brief overview of constitutional protection of human rights in Commonwealth Caribbean constitutions. The third and fourth sections provide examples of weather events in The Bahamas, and Trinidad & Tobago, which illustrate some of the ongoing impacts from climate change that these states are currently enduring.
