Genesis Alfred, a young Saint Lucian climate advocate, has taken the stage at the first-ever Caribbean Youth Environment and Climate Change Conference (CYECC 2025) in Kingston, Jamaica. The four-day conference will end on Friday.
Alfred, who serves as a regional delegate for the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) and programme manager for both the Caribbean Climate Justice Project (CCJP) and Youth IRIE, joined regional leaders and fellow changemakers in shaping conversations on biodiversity, climate action and sustainable futures for the Caribbean.
She was pictured on day one alongside Karen McDonald Gayle, CEO of the CBF, who also addressed delegates at the event.
For Alfred, the conference comes at a pivotal moment. Through CCJP and Youth IRIE, she is spearheading initiatives that place justice at the heart of climate action. Among them is the region’s first Climate and Technology Hackathon, which was recently launched with applications now open to youth across the Caribbean.
“The hackathon focuses on youth and ensuring they meet technology where it meets climate change, while keeping justice and fairness at the centre,” Alfred explained in a statement.
Participants are expected to develop prototypes ranging from smart farming tools and water monitoring systems to early warning devices and climate data dashboards.
Promising ideas, said Leandra Pinel, programme officer for CCJP and Youth IRIE, will not remain confined to prototypes. “They’ll be further developed and shared at international platforms, potentially influencing policy reform, education, and grassroots action across the region.”
Applications for the hackathon are open until October 26, 2025.
