Carlon Mendoza, Climate Analytics Caribbean: “My inspiration comes from experiencing the impacts of climate disasters in my home country.”

Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago—and later living in Barbados and Belize—Carlon Mendoza has seen both the beauty and the vulnerability of the Caribbean. “These are some of the best places to live,” he says, “but I’ve also lived through hurricanes and disasters. That’s what drives me to advocate for resilience and climate justice.”

Carlon works as a climate policy advisor with Climate Analytics Caribbean, where he champions fairness and equity in climate policies for small island developing states. His mission is clear: to ensure that the voices of Caribbean communities are heard and reflected in global climate decisions.

One milestone that fuels his determination is the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 and COP28—an achievement born from 30 years of advocacy by the Alliance of Small Island States. “It’s just the beginning,” Carlon says. “But it gives us hope. It shows that our voices matter.”

At Panama Climate Week, Carlon represented Climate Analytics Caribbean to help bridge the gap between global climate commitments and local realities. “We’re here to translate international dialogue into community-level awareness and action,” he explains. “Our goal is to keep the 1.5°C target alive—and to make sure no one is left behind in the transition.”

About Climate Analytics
The IKEA Foundation partners with Climate Analytics, a leading climate science and policy institute. Together, we support evidence-based decision-making to accelerate climate action and keep global warming below 1.5°C.