Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Dr Terrance Drew has called for a greater focus on climate justice and the involvement of local communities as countries respond to the growing impacts of climate change.

Drew made the remarks on June 18 during the opening of the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum in Germany, where he joined other world leaders for discussions on climate adaptation and the movement of people affected by environmental changes.

The prime minister took part in a high-level exchange on the Climate Mobility Principles alongside leaders from Palau, the Marshall Islands, Honduras, Tuvalu and the Maldives.

The session was hosted by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility in collaboration with the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

Addressing international policymakers, climate experts and development partners, Drew highlighted the challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which contribute little to global emissions but remain among the countries most vulnerable to climate impacts.

He pointed to the example of a Caribbean fisherman whose livelihood is threatened by rising sea temperatures and changing marine ecosystems, saying communities like these are facing consequences they did little to create.

“We are not seeking charity, we are not seeking pity. We are seeking justice and partnership, which are fundamental to dealing with these issues,” Drew said.

He argued that climate mobility should not be viewed as a sign that communities have failed to adapt, but as part of a wider effort to protect people’s dignity, livelihoods and way of life.

The prime minister also stressed that climate solutions must include the voices of the people most affected, warning that outside interventions can fall short if they ignore local knowledge and experience.

“Anything that is to be done at the local level must involve local communities,” he said, noting that people who have lived in vulnerable areas for generations often have their own strategies for adapting to environmental challenges.

Drew said climate action must go beyond infrastructure and include the protection of culture, identity and human rights.

He pointed to collaboration between the Global Centre for Climate Mobility and communities in Nevis as an example of how international partnerships can support locally driven solutions.

He also called for climate financing to be better aligned with the priorities of vulnerable communities, saying support should help people strengthen their resilience rather than force them from their homes.

“It is partnerships like these that keep me optimistic, that keep me hopeful. Partnerships like these tell us what is possible. We just have to work together,” he said.