Jamaica’s Model for Energy Independence

Roots of Resistance

Today is Jamaican Independence Day, so we would like to take some time to explore and appreciate the past, present, and future of a nation situated on the frontlines of climate change. As the inhabitants of a small island nation, the people of Jamaica are amongst those most impacted by changing environmental factors; however, just as Jamaicans fiercely resisted colonial rule, they are now confronting climate change with energy. Join us in examining the storied history of this nation and what it can teach us about our current campaign for the environment. 

Although a relatively young country, only gaining its independence on August 6, 1962, Jamaica’s history extends back to far earlier times. 

The Taíno people, indigenous to the coast of South America, first inhabited the landmass that now makes up Jamaica in about 600 AD. Through the next millennium, the Taíno people fostered a unique fusion of South American and Caribbean culture, known as Arawak-Taíno culture. 

Christopher Columbus’ arrival in present-day Jamaica in 1494 marked the beginning of the end for the longstanding Arawak-Taíno culture, however. Over the course of the coming decades, Spanish-led efforts of colonization and genocide nearly wiped out Arawak-Taíno culture as a whole, ushering in a new era of Jamaican history.

With Spanish rule came the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the plantation system that it propped up, drastically changing the demography and ecology of the island. This shift was maintained by the British Empire as it took control of the former Spanish colony following the Anglo-Spanish War. 

From 1655 to 1808, when Britain banned the trans-Atlantic slave trade, about 927,000 enslaved Africans were brought to Jamaica. These enslaved people became the crucial labor force behind the island’s expanding plantations and fueled the growth and maintenance of the sugarcane production on the island, making the industry the most profitable form of agricultural production across all of the Americas and Europe. 

European rule over Jamaica was brutal and characterized by the prioritization of profit above the welfare of the island’s people and the land itself. This systematic instrumentalization of life, which saw enslaved people’s lives reduced to mere tools for the economic, political, and social objectives of the British colonial system, is perhaps encapsulated by the events of April 7th, 1760, known as Tacky’s Revolt. This revolt by enslaved Africans, some of whom were militarily trained, tried to overturn a system that didn’t see them as people.

Though Tacky’s Revolt did not directly lead to freedom for its participants, it set a lasting principle of resistance and resilience. After nearly three centuries of colonial rule, multiple attempts at revolution, and the failed creation of a pan-Caribbean federation, Jamaica finally gained its independence in 1962. 

Freedom Deferred: The Weight of Economic Dependence 

Jamaican independence was hard fought over the course of generations. However, it didn’t necessarily mean complete sovereignty from the political actors that once directly ruled the island. To this day, Jamaica still stands subject to the economic powers of the Global North, directly and indirectly. 

Here’s how – of a population of nearly 2.8 million, 175,000 Jamaicans are directly employed by the tourism industry; an industry that indirectly supports the livelihoods of 354,000. The importance of this industry, which is reliant upon an influx of foreign visitors and capital, can be seen through Jamaica’s economic downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In response to travel restrictions, Jamaica’s tourism industry was projected to “haemorrhage by approximately $76.0 billion” in 2020, a significant blow to an economy with an estimated value of $19.423 billion in 2023. In fact, the downturn of this industry contributed to a nearly 10% decrease in the nation’s real GDP the same year. 

A Warming World’s Disproportionate Toll

The sudden decline of Jamaica’s tourism industry following COVID-19 is just one clear example of the Global North’s continued projection of power on the island. Worryingly, this condition of economic dependence could be made more severe by climate change. Although only responsible for 0.02% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally, Jamaica stands to lose more than the biggest emitters as Caribbean weather patterns become more unpredictable and sea levels rise. 

Hurricane Beryl alone caused an economic loss of $6.5 billion in 2024, affecting 45,000 farmers and damaging 8,700 homes in the process. As storms like Beryl become more frequent, the damage to both life and property in Jamaica will continue and almost certainly accelerate. Additionally, rising sea levels threaten to consume the nation’s coastlines, where 82% of residents live and much of the country’s critical tourism infrastructure lies. Kingston, the capital city, is a case in point, with projections indicating that sea levels could rise there by as much as 34 cm by 2050 and 1.1 meters by 2100.

Without decisive action, climate change will jeopardize the livelihoods, homes, and lifestyles of countless Jamaicans. 

Energy Independence is Political Independence

Jamaica’s current status is not cause for despair, however. In fact, the Jamaican spirit of independence and resilience is bleeding into the nation’s approach to energy production. 

In 2022, 100% of Jamaica’s domestic energy production came from renewable sources like biofuels, wind, and solar. Though these sources only accounted for 7% of their total energy usage, investment in these energy sources is proving to produce an excellent return. The growth of clean, domestic energy has helped bring down fossil fuel imports by 17% over the course of the last two decades, paving the way towards a greener and more broadly independent future.

Although the rate of new renewable energy projects has thus far lagged behind national targets, such as Jamaica’s pledge to achieve a 50% renewable energy mix by 2050, a strong sentiment toward the implementation of renewable energy remains. Projections predict that 23.5% of the island’s power will come from renewables by 2030 and 37% by 2050, an impressive leap from the 7% renewable consumption rate that Jamaica stands at currently.

And these projections are more than mere virtue signaling. The Jamaican Stock Exchange has developed “Green Bonds,” government-issued bonds used to fund social and climate-centric projects, putting money where their mouth is. As projected by the United Nations Development Programme, this sort of investment could yield approximately 7,500 new jobs for the small island nation in addition to the environmental benefits it will produce. 

Teaching the Next Generation That Climate Change is Real

What is more, Jamaica’s green journey is being taken directly into schools, too.

Climate education is incorporated directly into Jamaica’s school curriculum, beginning as early as grade three. More focused instruction starts by grade six, covering the causes, consequences, and impacts of climate change through discussions, field trips, and the use of technology. 

With teachers receiving specialized training on how to educate their students on climate change and environmental stewardship, the Jamaica Environment Trust’s Schools’ Environment Programme engages thousands of students with hands-on environmental activities. 

At large, climate literacy and sustainable development are key priorities in Jamaica’s education policies, with ongoing efforts to strengthen their integration throughout various subjects and grade levels.

Defying Odds, Defining the Future

Jamaica’s history has been one of exceptional hardship and persistence, and its campaign against climate change is no exception. However, through its green energy efforts, the nation is resisting the narrative of the state’s postcolonial dependence on the Global North. Though Jamaica is certainly still subject to the economic pressures of global powers, it is independently defining its national future, presenting itself as a beacon of hope in the face of a climate crisis that impacts us all. 

Although facing a uniquely challenging set of climate challenges due to its size and geopolitical positioning, the nation’s resilience amidst these circumstances also provides a blueprint to the rest of the world. 

Jamaica is a small island nation seeking to achieve developed nation status, yet it is making a concerted effort to invest in a long-term green future. It is disproving the pervasive myth that clean energy is too expensive to ever be practical, especially in the Developing World. In fact, Jamaica’s leadership is showing the contrary: that renewable energy paves the path toward greater energy independence and efficiency, all while reducing emissions. 

Stand Up for a Cleaner Future

If you’re inspired by Jamaica’s environmental direction, consider joining our ongoing campaign to protect the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency. In the face of ongoing deregulation, voices like yours make a difference! Write to Congress, Administrator Zeldin, and President Trump to protect the regulatory legislation that keeps America clean.

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