Kelli Armstrong: Championing Climate Justice in the Caribbean

With over a decade of work in environmental science and activism, Kelli Armstrong has been using her voice to call for preserving the natural beauty of her native Bahamas and combating the devastating effects of climate change. 

Born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas in a family of scientists, Armstrong’s love for environmental advocacy began with a childhood steeped in the beauty of the Caribbean landscape. An avid beach lover from birth, Kelli sparked her affinity for the natural world while spending her childhood swimming in crystal-clear waters with family and on field trips to the nation’s wetlands.

Armstrong’s academic pursuits led her to the University of the Bahamas, where she discovered her passion for environmental science. After obtaining degrees from Acadia and Columbia Universities, her career trajectory took shape at Bron, a leading architecture and engineering firm in the Caribbean, where she played a pivotal role in establishing the firm’s environmental services division, as their first environmental scientist. 

Over the years, she has risen through the ranks to become the Associate Principal of Programs and Business Development, where she continues to champion sustainability and environmental stewardship within the firm.

Finding a voice as an activist

Armstrong’s multifaceted approach to activism encompasses her roles as an artist, scientist, social entrepreneur, and activist. But in the beginning, she admits that though she had the technical skills and knowledge, she struggled to find her voice.

“When it came time for me to just stand up and speak, I still got … all the crazy jitters.” she notes. Encouragement from her mentor, Carlos at Bron pushed her “ … to always speak up and use my voice and make sure that I bring awareness to the issues that people really need to be aware of and, … make sure that we address them together.” 

Armstrong continued to find her voice by taking every opportunity she could, including participatory research, leading public consultation meetings, and embracing the responsibilities of an advocate. 

Today, her activism has become even more critical than before. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 prompts the world to “ take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” Bahamians like Armstrong have seen the full effect of climate change on the archipelago island nation. The Bahamas was named one of the nations most vulnerable to rising sea levels. 

In 2019, the country faced one its worst hurricanes, Hurricane Dorian that drenched parts of the nation in over 100 ft of water, flooding homes and ripping much of the lush vegetation from the earth’s surface. While the island has recovered, Kelli has taken further steps to increase awareness of the effects of climate change.

Educating and Empowering Communities

In 2020, amidst the challenges of the global pandemic, Armstrong co-founded the Trifecta Group with her siblings, a platform for small businesses without the time and resources to do social work themselves, to pool resources and collectively engage in social responsibility initiatives, empowering them to effect meaningful change in their communities. Tragically, Kelli’s brother passed away unexpectedly last year. In his memory, Kelli carries on his legacy, using Trifecta Group as a vehicle for social and environmental change.

One of Kelli’s most impactful initiatives is her involvement with the Anglican Climate Action Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. Appointed to the 10-member committee by the Rt. Reverend Laish Boyd, Kelli spearheads environmental education and advocacy efforts within the church community. Through quarterly materials for Sunday school, bulletins, activities and sermon guides, the committee integrates environmental consciousness into religious teachings, fostering a deeper spiritual connection to nature. 

Kelli’s journey recently led her to participate in the Caribbean Climate Justice Camp which brought together activists from across the Caribbean diaspora to share knowledge and strategies for collective action. Inspired by her experience, Kelli returned with newfound tools to advance her work.

Despite the progress made, Kelli acknowledges the challenges ahead in mobilising widespread climate action. She emphasises the importance of bridging the gap between individuals and the environmental movement, empowering people to recognise their role in combating climate change. Additionally, she educates locals about the importance of embracing their cultural heritage as indigenous practices and traditional ways of life are often in harmony with nature.

When asked if she sees herself as a moonshot thinker, Kelli offered this response about her work, “I definitely see the potential it has to make paradigm shifts and have a butterfly effect in terms of systematic change.” 

As the world grapples with the urgent realities of climate change, individuals like Kelli Armstrong serve as beacons of hope, demonstrating the power of collective action for a more sustainable world.