Partnership: Caribbean
Overview
All 16 beneficiary countries are Small Island Developing States (SIDS), hence generally recognised as highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The effects most threatening the island nations and its inhabitants are the increased hurricane frequency and intensity and the rises in sea level.
Over the past decennium, the Caribbean region has mainly focused on adaptation measures. Several programmes with a regional scope and approach have been implemented. The main ones include the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) Project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Adapting to Climate Change in the Caribbean (ACCC) Project funded by the World Bank, the Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Project funded by the GEF, the Special Pilot Adaptation to Climate Change (SPACC) Project also funded by the GEF, and the ongoing Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) funded by the Inter-American Development Bank.
Officially opened in 2005, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) coordinates the region's response to climate change, working on effective solutions and project development. The Centre also provides climate change-related policy advice and guidelines to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and functions as an archive and clearing house for regional climate change data and documentation.
The Caribbean component of the intra-ACP GCCA programme will further build on the results achieved by the earlier programmes. It has been designed to respond to identified gaps and priorities. In this sense, the Regional Policy Framework for Achieving Climate Change Resilient Development has been updated. The resulting document, called the Implementation Plan, will form the basis for the implementation of the intra-ACP GCCA programme in the Caribbean.
Obective
Overall objective:To support sustainable development in the Caribbean region, preserving the progress of the countries towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).Specific objective:To enhance local, national and regional capacities and resilience in ways that link sustainable development, risk management, and adaptation for a win-win-win situation.
Main expected results and activitiesClimate monitoring
The existing regional climate monitoring system will be expanded and integrated in the Global Climate Observing Systems (GCOS). Under the programme, an additional 106 hydro-meteorological stations and 6 coral reef early warning stations (CREWS) will be installed. Also, a system for adequate collection, digitizing and storage of data retrieved from the expanded monitoring system will be put in place. Finally, a protocol for sharing the information through the CCCCC's information clearing house facility will be developed.
Climate modelling
In view of enhancing the predictive powers of the climate models currently in use, the programme will support the development of improved models based on data at smaller resolutions. In this sense, an adequate system of national and regional data nodes will be put in place and further work on ensemble climate modelling and downscaling models will be undertaken. The required capacity will be built through a specific training programme.
Once available, the use of the improved climate models in studies on climate impact will be promoted through regional workshops and through the implementation of about ten climate impact studies in the region. Obviously, reliable climate impact studies will result in improved planning of adaptation measures and wider development.
Vulnerability and risk assessment
Under this cluster, vulnerability and risk assessment techniques and methodologies will be developed and people will be trained in the application of the new methodologies.
Subsequently, about 10 vulnerability assessments will be conducted in the field. This activity will be implemented in collaboration with the Caribbean Natural Resource Institute (CANARI) and the outcomes of the assessments will inform future land use planning, zoning and development planning.
A number of risk and hazard assessments will also be carried out, and topographic maps indicating risk areas and levels will be produced in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Adaptation projects
The development and implementation of concrete adaptation projects will be based on the experiences gained under the Special Pilot Adaptation to Climate Change (SPACC) Project in St Lucia, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Following the identification and screening (feasibility studies, participatory consultations) of potential adaptation interventions, at least two adaptation projects will be funded and implemented.
Access to carbon financing
The programme aims to build regional and national capacity for increased access to available carbon financing. To enhance the region's participation in the CDM, the programme will support: (1) the establishment and operationalisation of Designated National Authorities (DNAs); (2) the development of criteria for a first-order screening of project proposals in the area of renewable energy; and (3) the participatory development and implementation of two renewable energy projects in indigenous communities. Further, in view of increasing the region's preparedness to access REDD funding, the programme will organise a seminar on REDD. Emphasis will be put on enhancing capacities for developing reference scenarios and for complying with Monitoring, Reporting and Verification requirements. Lead countries will be Guyana, Belize and Suriname.