St. Lucia

The National Climate Action Forum (CAF) seeks to review and strengthen coordination mechanisms, including the new Climate Action Team of the Saint Lucia Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, to enhance the visibility and impact of CSOs and highlight their role as implementers, advocates and watchdogs as part of national climate initiatives alongside government and the private sector. CYEN SLU President, Jevanic Henry, delivered a presentation on youth and CYEN involvement in climate action.

The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is an annual cleanup which is coordinated by CYEN in Saint Lucia. Various groups are engaged to conduct coastal clean ups in various parts of the island for the putposes of removing harmful waste from the environment, and gathering data which is shared with the global community for analysis of the amount and types of waste in coastal environments. Dates:● 24-Sept-22● 1-Oct-22

The Department of Sustainable Development organised a Plastic-free July Debate on the topic “Beach and coastal cleanups are ineffective in the fight to address plastic pollution”. The Island Innovation Ambassadors were on the proposing side of the debate while CYEN was on the opposing side. CYEN won this live televised debate. Link to live stream on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintLuciaGovernment/videos/776323860079134

CYEN, in collaboration with the Iyanola Project, coordinated a trip to Grande Anse Beach, which is a turtle nesting site. This was organised for CYEN members and the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Environmental Club, as a World Biodiversity Day Activity. The trip was educational as participants heard presentations by the Department of Fisheries, the Des Barras Turtle Watch Group (Grande Anse Sea Turtle And Nature Defenders), and other educators on the ecological significance of the site. The entire coastline at the beach contained a high level of sargassum seaweed, and the participants spent the day clearing corridors in the seaweed to assist turtles that come up onto the sand for nesting.

For Earth Day 2023 CYEN Saint Lucia hosted a “Sòlèy Kouché” in the evening on Earth Day, at the Pigeon Island National Landmark. This collaboration between CYEN and the Saint Lucia National Trust included a feature speaker and open dialogue about the environment and Earth Day 2023 theme. The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Environmental Club also participated in this event and joined the dialogue. The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports was a generous sponsor for this event.