Perspectives on the Climate Crisis from the United States Virgin Islands

Background and Purpose:

The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) is uniquely vulnerable to climate crisis events. Acute crises like natural disasters continue to impact the islands, but consideration must also be paid to sub-acute events like drought and rising sea levels that may be just as impactful. The USVI’s vulnerability is both geographic, as Caribbean islands, as well as political, due to its status as a territory of the United States. Despite its placement as one of the most vulnerable locations in the United States, limited research has been completed to date on people’s perspectives on the climate crisis. This study helps to address that gap.

Methods:

This study used a case study method to assess perspectives of the climate crisis in the USVI. A review of media coverage of the climate crisis was analyzed, as well as official government documents and other grey literature. This secondary data analysis allowed for a longitudinal perspective on changes to attitudes and beliefs about the climate crisis over time. Additionally, interviews were completed with community leaders from a cross section of society. Attitudes were analyzed around place-specific climate crisis events including: hurricanes, increased drought, coastal erosion, ocean acidification, and increased temperatures. As the USVI is a predominantly Black population, this study also contributes the integration of critical race theory, which is largely absent from the current literature.

Findings:

Analysis revealed that attitudes in the USVI have shifted over time. The frequency of media coverage, as well as its contents were analyzed. Interviews with community leaders were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis revealed emerging themes related to varying perspectives within the USVI closely related to how people interacted with the natural environment. Strongest concerns about climate crisis were related to individuals who had economic, cultural, social/recreational, and spiritual connections to the physical environment. Changes in perspectives over time were noted based upon shifting federal contexts, evolving positions of local government leadership in this area, as well as specific time-based events related to climate change, including Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Additionally, factors based upon the USVI's status of as a territory were deemed relevant, as this limits the jurisdictions access to federal resources as compared to states. In the data this manifested as the twinned crises of climate and poverty. Analysis also revealed a theme related to racial and health inequities and how this related to the climate crisis.

Conclusion and Implications:

As the USVI is extremely vulnerable to climate crisis events, this study centers critical voices. Climate crisis events will continue to impact communities in the USVI including more frequent and intense hurricanes, periods of prolonged drought, and rising sea levels. By better understanding people’s perspectives of the climate crisis, their concerns and opinions can be centered in climate adaptation and mitigation planning efforts. Additionally lessons learned in the USVI can be used for other areas of the country that experience their own place-based climate crisis events. Research with communities like the USVI should be prioritized within the Social Welfare research agenda.