A Caribbean Climate-focused flotilla is set to sail through the Caribbean, including Curaçao, as part of a regional campaign demanding a just transition from fossil fuels and greater recognition of climate justice and reparations.
The initiative, known as the Climate Justice Flotilla, will depart from Sint Maarten on April 8, 2026, with two vessels—Apsara and Ocean Rebellion—traveling through the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, before heading to Santa Marta, where an international conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels will be held.
The flotilla’s mission is to amplify Caribbean voices in global climate change and energy policy discussions, especially after COP30 failed to provide a concrete plan for phasing out fossil fuels. The organizers view the flotilla as both symbolic and political, emphasizing the Caribbean’s ongoing role in global resource extraction. The region still faces the consequences of colonial exploitation, including economic dependency, high energy costs, and vulnerability to environmental risks.
Sailing through territories that are still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the flotilla highlights the historical ties between the Caribbean and global systems of resource extraction. Activists argue that addressing climate change must also tackle sovereignty issues, economic inequality, and the need for reparations.
Mar Faciolince Martina, a Colombian-Curaçaoan activist and member of the flotilla’s steering committee, stated that the Caribbean remains at the heart of global climate injustice due to centuries of extraction and forced dependence on fossil fuels.
The flotilla’s mission advocates for an energy transition based on ecological sustainability, local resource control, and the restoration of food, water, land, and energy systems. The flotilla is expected to reach Colombia in time for the international conference, where Caribbean representatives will contribute to discussions on the future of global energy systems and the role of developing regions in this transition.
