Despite the scientific and legal imperative to phase out fossil fuels, oil and gas projects continue to be developed at sea and along coastlines. A new wave of offshore exploration and production is accelerating across the Wider Caribbean, posing significant ecological, social, and economic risks.
The Caribbean is home to some of the world’s most important marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and fisheries that sustain communities.Yet this vital region is under growing pressure from the exploration, production, and transportation of oil and gas, as well as from the buildout of LNG infrastructure. These activities intensify climate impacts, threaten marine life, and lock economies into fossil fuel dependence at a moment when moving toward a fossil-free ocean is urgent.
The High Cost of Offshore Oil and Gas: Climate, Ecosystems, and Economies in the Wider Caribbean examines how offshore oil and gas development is reinforcing economic vulnerability and driving ecological harm in the Caribbean, while identifying the legal and governance gaps that enable its expansion. It also highlights concrete actions States can take to protect communities, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
The path forward is clear, and action cannot wait.
(Published April 28, 2026)