Elesha George’s groundbreaking work, particularly her in-depth report titled “Energy Independence or Extinction: Antigua and Barbuda at a Crossroads,” has earned her the prestigious Best Multimedia Climate Storytelling award at the Climate Tracker awards, in partnership with Open Society Foundations.
Her contributions highlight Antigua and Barbuda’s remarkable journey toward renewable energy and the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
George, originally from Dominica but practicing journalism in Antigua and Barbuda, expressed pride in representing the Eastern Caribbean, sharing that her passion for the environment stems from her upbringing in Dominica, often referred to as the “nature island of the Caribbean.”
Reflecting on her childhood, she stated, “I grew up around natural things, ran around barefoot, and appreciated the animals and creatures in my environment. When I see these wonders threatened, something inside me goes into gear. That’s when I said we need to focus on environmental news.”
“I have heard people saying that they don’t care about the environment because we are going to die anyway. But would you prefer to live 40 years with good quality air or 40 terrible years? The quality of life is what we have to invest in”, she added
Despite facing challenges from limited newsroom resources in the Caribbean, George is optimistic about prioritizing environmental reporting.
Her accolades extend beyond this award; she is also an alumna of the Young Leaders of America Initiative (YLAI), won the ‘Best Journalist’ award at the Antigua Barbuda Gospel Music & Media Awards in 2021, and received the Junior Chamber International ‘Media Trailblazer Award’ in 2023.