Environmental Policy in The Caribbean: A Comparative Approach

The study of environmental policies and their effectiveness gained substantial scientific attention when the effects of industrialization and urbanization started to impair human health in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, despite the significance of the issue, little is known at the implementation stage, especially in the Caribbean. Consequently, this study examines environmental policies and practices in the Caribbean, highlights both successes and failures, and gives a summary of the main mechanisms the region has used. On a sample of 10 countries, the study employs both qualitative (secondary data sources) and quantitative method (OLS models). Key findings include: (1) Regulations and standards for pollution reduction management in the Caribbean are weak. (2) Difficulty in implementing current regulations and slow implementation. (3) Lack of public understanding about the need to deal with environmental risks and challenges. (4) Adopted environmental policies are ineffective in dealing with environmental concerns due to a lack of facilities and finance, as well as human resources due to government recruitment restrictions. We recommend that all Caribbean countries have in place an adequate legal framework.